At Least Six Lose Their Lives 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 sports arena in the West African nation.
The midweek "devastating" incident seems to have been caused by "a sudden rush of applicants who overcame security measures and stormed the entrances," stated a release from Ghana's armed forces.
Twenty-two others were hurt, including five who are in critical condition.
Thousands had turned up at El-Wak stadium, in the main city, Accra, with the hope of joining the armed forces.
The country has a youth unemployment rate of approximately 32%, the latest government statistics indicate, and such enlistment drives normally attract massive gatherings and frequently result in disorderly situations.
The closing date to apply for this event was extended by a seven days to allow for additional candidates, as some had experienced difficulties in the application procedure.
Army spokesperson Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin said the stampede occurred before the event's scheduled start of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
The nation's leader John Mahama has gone to see the injured in medical care.
Order has been restored, and the recruitment exercise has since begun.
