No Fewer Than Six Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghana Military Recruitment Event
No fewer than 6 individuals have lost their lives amid a stampede at a armed forces enlistment gathering held in a stadium in Ghana.
The midweek "devastating" incident appeared to have been triggered by "an unexpected surge of candidates who breached security protocols and stormed the entrances," stated a statement from the nation's military.
Twenty-two others were injured, among them five who remain in serious state.
A large crowd had turned up at the El-Wak sports venue, in the main city, the capital, with the hope of joining the military.
Ghana has a youth unemployment rate of approximately thirty-two percent, the latest government statistics show, and such recruitment events typically draw massive gatherings and often lead to disorderly situations.
The closing date to apply for this event was prolonged for a seven days to accommodate additional candidates, as some had experienced difficulties in the process.
Military representative Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the crush occurred before the event's scheduled start of 06:20 GMT.
The nation's leader John Mahama has visited the wounded in medical care.
Calm has been restored, and the recruitment exercise has since begun.