By Azaglo Michael
Ghana’s growing youth unemployment crisis took a tragic turn on Wednesday, 12th Nov 2025, when six young women lost their lives in a stampede at the El-Wak Stadium during a Ghana Armed Forces recruitment exercise. The incident, which has sparked nationwide outrage, highlights the widening gap between job demand and opportunity among the country’s rapidly expanding youth population.
According to Brigadier General Evelyn Vivian Abraham-Kwabiah, Commander and Acting CEO of the 37 Military Hospital, 12 people suffered varying degrees of injuries, while five others are also in the ICU at the 37 Military Hospital. All victims had paid for recruitment forms and were attempting to secure entry into the stadium when overcrowding triggered the deadly rush.
Human rights observers describe the incident as a gross violation of the right to work, the right to dignity, and the right to life, as guaranteed under Article 6 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which affirms every individual’s right to freely-chosen employment.
A Youthful Nation on the Edge
Ghana’s demographic landscape continues to tilt heavily toward the youth. Data from the 2021 National Population Census reveals that:
35% of the population are children (0–14 years)
38% of the population are young people (15–35 years)
This represents a powerful labour force full of innovation and potential — yet one crippled by unemployment.
A World Bank report (2020) on youth employment in Ghana identifies agribusiness, apprenticeship, construction, tourism, sports, and entrepreneurship as sectors with significant job creation potential. The report also recommends enhanced mentorship, career guidance, and work-based learning to improve employability. Despite these recommendations, youth unemployment remains at 12%, with over 50% underemployed, far exceeding the Sub-Saharan African average.
For many Ghanaian families, especially those relying on their eldest children for support, the loss of these young women is devastating.
Human Rights Concerns and International Recommendations
The tragedy coincides with Ghana’s recent Universal Periodic Review (UPR), where several countries urged Ghana to intensify efforts on:
Poverty Reduction & Social Protection
Strengthening livelihood development programmes (Mauritania; Cuba)
Protection of Women & Girls
Eliminating discriminatory stereotypes and harmful practices (Namibia)
Anti-Torture Mechanisms
Establishing independent bodies to prevent torture and enforced disappearances (Ukraine; Argentina)
Labour Rights
Developing legislation to promote women’s right to work and protect against gender discrimination (Lesotho)
The stampede — particularly involving female applicants — underscores gaps in safety, planning, and gender-sensitive recruitment processes.
Civil Society Groups Demand Accountability
The Concern Health Education Project, an NGO and a member of the Ghana Human Rights NGOs Forum, together with other civil society stakeholder groups, has condemned the poor coordination of the recruitment exercise, describing it as “unacceptable, shameful, and barbaric” in an era where digital and AI-assisted systems should enhance recruitment safety.
Although government has pledged to recruit one family member per deceased victim, advocates say more must be done.
Key Recommendations to Prevent Future Tragedies
Civil society groups, including the Concern Health Education Project, led by CEO Isaac Ampomah, propose the following urgent reforms:
Maintain institutional memory of previous recruitment exercises to avoid repeated planning failures.
Use applicant data to schedule batch screening and prevent overcrowding.
Utilize multiple stadiums and regional centres to manage turnout effectively.
Compensate all victims and families from recruitment form proceeds.
Ensure gender-sensitive processes, including separate queues where necessary.
Provide equal and safe access for both male and female applicants.
Document best practices and implement emergency response plans.
Deploy ambulance and medical teams on-site for every recruitment.
Audit all recruitment form proceeds, with public disclosure under the Right to Information Act (Act 989).
Strengthen military–civil society collaboration for safer, transparent recruitment systems.
A Call for Justice and Reform
The deaths of the six young job seekers stand as a stark reminder of the human cost of unemployment and institutional lapses. As the nation mourns, stakeholders are pressing for swift accountability and long-term reforms to protect Ghana’s youth — whose aspirations should never cost them their lives.
