The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has successfully concluded the first phase of its 2025/2026 recruitment exercise, screening nearly 17,000 applicants nationwide. The process, which resumed on November 20, 2025, following a week-long suspension due to technical issues and a tragic stampede, ended on Monday, November 24.

The screening involved rigorous physical and medical assessments, disqualifying candidates with tattoos, double piercings, knock knees, bow legs, and flat feet. Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin, Acting Director General of Public Relations, explained that these physical features could negatively affect training and operational performance.

The exercise faced a major setback on November 12 at El Wak Stadium, when a stampede left six dead and 28 injured. The incident occurred around 6:20 a.m. as approximately 21,000 applicants breached security protocols, prompting GAF to suspend operations and implement enhanced safety measures.

Upon resumption, GAF introduced strict crowd control measures, batching applicants into groups of 600 and providing SMS notifications with reporting dates, batch numbers, and designated centres. Screening expanded to eight sub-centres across Greater Accra, including El Wak Stadium, Nicholson Park at Burma Camp, TRADOC in Teshie, the Air Force Base at Burma Camp, and the Eastern Naval Command in Tema. Later, operations were consolidated to El Wak Sports Stadium, where documentation and body selection continue.

Applicants underwent stringent physical evaluations, including minimum height requirements of 1.68 metres for males and 1.57 metres for females, with stricter standards for military police candidates.

Captain Arhin reiterated that individuals with tattoos, piercings, or certain physical conditions do not qualify under GAF’s operational readiness policies.

The 2025/2026 recruitment forms part of a government plan to enlist 12,000 personnel into the Armed Forces over the next three and a half years. Initially set to close on October 31, the application period was extended to November 7 due to technical challenges on the online portal.

The recruitment process has been decentralised across all 16 regional capitals to improve accessibility.

GAF continues to provide support to victims of the El Wak stampede. Injured applicants are receiving free medical care at the 37 Military Hospital, while special recruitment packages will be offered to fully recovered individuals and the families of deceased applicants. A Board of Inquiry is investigating the circumstances that led to the tragedy.

To ensure a smooth and secure process, GAF has replaced the Greater Accra recruitment team, appointing Commodore F.A. Nyarko as Director General of Human Resources, Colonel F. Kusi Darko as Director of Manpower, and Colonel G.B. Eduah as Director of Information Technology. Strict crowd control measures are in place, with military police enforcing access only for registered applicants.