Christmas Rush Sparks Stampede at Accra Central Market; Several Collapse Including Pregnant Woman
- A stampede occurred at Accra Central Market on December 22, amid Christmas shopping chaos
- The incident happened amid heavy human traffic as shoppers rushed to buy food items for the festive season
- The Ghana National Fire Service intervened to prevent the stampede from causing serious casualties
Traders at the Accra Central Business District have recounted a stampede that occurred on Monday, December 22.
The stampede was a result of Christmas shopping pressures, which led to overwhelming congestion at the market.
Source: Getty Images
Adom News reported that the incident happened amid heavy human traffic as shoppers rushed to buy food items and other essentials ahead of the festive season.
The extreme congestion triggered panic within the market, resulting in several people collapsing, including a pregnant woman.
Others, including children, reportedly lost their mobile phones and money during the stampede.
According to the traders, the situation nearly turned tragic before personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service intervened by spraying water to calm the crowd and prevent further harm.
Accra Central Market is one of the capital’s busiest trading hubs, especially during Christmas, when thousands of shoppers converge daily to prepare for the festivities.
Similar Christmas shopping congestion in Kumasi
In the Ashanti Region, thousands travelled to the Kumasi metropolis to buy essential items for the holiday season.
For example, the Kejetia and Adum enclaves have been characterised by huge human and vehicular traffic, with shoppers enduring long periods in traffic.
Shoppers, some from the northern part of the country, travelled to the Garden City to purchase food items and other personal effects for the occasion.
Graphic reported that Traders in Kumasi said business was booming, with shoppers busily buying food, clothes, shoes and other paraphernalia as the peak of the festivities approaches.
As a result of increased commercial activities, the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has approved temporary trading locations for the Christmas season.
Source: Facebook
On December 12, the assembly informed the public in a statement on Facebook that the decision followed stakeholder engagement between the Kumasi City Market and the leadership of the trade unions at Kejetia.
Areas which were previously not designated for trading have been opened from Monday, December 15, 2025, to Thursday, January 15, 2026, to accommodate the increased commercial activity.
The assembly, however, stressed that all walkways, along with the 14 gates and entrances of the Kumasi City Market, were to be strictly prohibited for trading to ensure the free movement of shoppers and to maintain safety within the market.
Military recruitment tragedy at El Wak
YEN.com.gh reported on the controversial recruitment process in which six people died in a stampede at the El Wak Stadium during the physical screening process.
Twelve people were in critical condition, while five received treatment in the Intensive Care Unit. A separate recruitment exercise in Kumasi also recorded five injuries.
The army blamed the incident at El Wak on the breach by applicants who allegedly breached security protocols, and later enacted reforms and changed supervisors to improve crowd management during the screening processes.
Source: YEN.com.gh
