At Least Six Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghana Armed Forces Enlistment Event
No fewer than six individuals have lost their lives amid a crowd crush at a military recruitment gathering held in a sports arena in the West African nation.
The Wednesday's "devastating" incident appeared to have been caused by "an unexpected surge of candidates who overcame security measures and stormed the gates," stated a release from Ghana's armed forces.
Twenty-two additional individuals were injured, among them five who are in serious state.
A large crowd had turned up at El-Wak stadium, in the main city, Accra, with the hope of joining the armed forces.
The country has a rate of joblessness among young people of about thirty-two percent, the latest government statistics show, and such enlistment drives normally draw massive gatherings and frequently result in chaotic scenes.
The deadline to apply for this recruitment was prolonged for a week to allow for additional candidates, as a number had faced challenges in the process.
Military representative Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin said the crush took place before the planned commencement time of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
Ghana's President President John Mahama has visited the wounded in hospital.
Calm has been restored, and the recruitment exercise has now begun.
