At Least 6 Perish in Stampede at Ghanaian Armed Forces Enlistment Event
No fewer than six individuals have lost their lives during a crowd crush at a military recruitment gathering held in a stadium in the West African nation.
The Wednesday's "tragic" event appeared to have been caused by "a sudden rush 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 remain in critical condition.
A large crowd had turned up at the El-Wak sports venue, in the capital, Accra, with the aspiration of joining the armed forces.
Ghana has a youth unemployment rate of approximately 32%, the most recent official data show, and such recruitment events typically attract massive gatherings and frequently lead to disorderly situations.
The deadline to submit applications for this event was prolonged for a seven days to allow for more applicants, as some had experienced difficulties in the application procedure.
Army spokesperson Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the crush took place before the planned commencement time of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
The nation's leader President John Mahama has gone to see the injured in medical care.
Order has been restored, and the recruitment exercise has now started.
