The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Ocloo, has attributed the tragic stampede during the military recruitment exercise at the El-Wak Sports Stadium, which claimed six lives, to an attitude problem.

Speaking in an interview with JoyNews on November 12, 2025, about better ways to manage the large crowds that often accompany military enlistment exercises, Linda Ocloo condemned the incident, questioning why applicants failed to adhere to directives.

According to her, the recruitment process was organised in batches, with some applicants scheduled to report on other days, yet they all showed up on November 12, 2025, despite it not being their turn.

“This is an attitude [problem] because as far as I'm concerned, like I said, you were told to come on Friday. What are you doing here today? Looking at the huge number of people that have applied. Are you getting me?” she noted.

Ocloo further asserted that the military, aware of the large number of applicants, had segmented the recruitment process to prevent any unfortunate occurrences, a measure she said the people defied.

“So, they [military] know that they cannot attend to everybody and that is why they’ve segmented them… It is in batches. This recruitment is in batches and it's going to last for one week. And so, trust me, within this one week, everybody will be attended [to]. But if you rush and you go there, and you are disqualified, are you going to blame them?” she asked.

Meanwhile, the recruitment exercise in Accra has been suspended following the deaths of six female applicants in the stampede.

Five others are reported to be in critical condition and are receiving treatment at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the 37 Military Hospital, while several others who sustained varying degrees of injuries are also undergoing medical care.

Watch the video below

“This was an attitude issue—You were told to come on Friday, what are you doing here today?”

—The Accra Regional Minister, Hon. Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo on the El Wak Sports Stadium stampede that killed six prospective recruits during today’s Ghana Armed Forces screening… pic.twitter.com/rp0VJk02xD

— SIKAOFFICIAL🦍 (@SIKAOFFICIAL1) November 12, 2025