At Least Six Perish in Stampede at Ghanaian Armed Forces Enlistment Drive
No fewer than six people have lost their lives amid a crowd crush at a armed forces enlistment event held in a stadium in the West African nation.
The Wednesday's "tragic" event appeared to have been caused by "a sudden rush of applicants who breached security protocols and stormed the gates," announced a statement from Ghana's armed forces.
22 additional individuals were hurt, among them 5 who remain in serious state.
A large crowd had turned up at El-Wak stadium, in the capital, Accra, with the hope of joining the military.
The country has a rate of joblessness among young people of about thirty-two percent, the latest official data indicate, and such recruitment events normally attract massive gatherings and often lead to disorderly situations.
The deadline to submit applications for this recruitment was extended by a week to allow for additional candidates, as a number had faced challenges in the application procedure.
Military representative Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the crush took place before the planned commencement time of 06:20 GMT.
The nation's leader President John Mahama has gone to see the injured in medical care.
Calm has been reestablished, and the enlistment process has since started.
