Mahama Says El-Wak Stampede Was Preventable, Calls for Clearer Recruitment Processes

President John Dramani Mahama has described the deadly El-Wak stampede that claimed six lives and injured several others as a tragedy that could have been prevented. He emphasised the need for better planning, fairness, and transparency in security service recruitment to avoid similar incidents.

Speaking on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, during a courtesy call by the Christian Council of Ghana, the President said the absence of clear recruitment procedures had turned what should have been a life-changing opportunity for many young people into a fatal disaster.

He said opaque processes, unclear timelines, and sudden announcements contributed to mass confusion and dangerous overcrowding at recruitment centres. While most regional recruitment exercises were orderly, the Greater Accra and Ashanti Regions experienced severe challenges, including injuries and near-fatal situations.

At the El-Wak Sports Stadium, where the stampede occurred, the venue had only two entry points, which he said were inadequate for the large number of applicants. He noted that the screening exercise should have been paused and properly reviewed when early signs of congestion appeared.

President Mahama added that new measures have now been introduced to ensure safety during recruitment exercises. These include capping the number of daily applicants and opening multiple screening venues to prevent overcrowding and reduce the risk of future stampedes.