No Fewer Than Six Perish in Stampede at Ghanaian Armed Forces Enlistment Event
At least six individuals have lost their lives amid a crowd crush at a military recruitment gathering held in a sports arena in Ghana.
The Wednesday's "tragic" event seems to have been caused by "a sudden rush of applicants who breached security protocols and stormed the entrances," stated a release from the nation's military.
Twenty-two others were hurt, including 5 who are in critical condition.
Thousands had gathered at the El-Wak sports venue, in the capital, Accra, with the aspiration of enlisting in the military.
The country has a rate of joblessness among young people of about 32%, the latest official data indicate, and such enlistment drives normally draw massive gatherings and often lead to chaotic scenes.
The closing date to submit applications for this recruitment was extended by a week to allow for more applicants, as a number had experienced challenges in the application procedure.
Army spokesperson Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin said the stampede took place before the planned commencement time of 06:20 GMT.
Ghana's President President John Mahama has gone to see the wounded in hospital.
Calm has been restored, and the enlistment process has now begun.
