At Least Six Lose Their Lives in Crowd Crush at Ghana Armed Forces Enlistment Event
No fewer than 6 individuals have died amid a stampede at a military recruitment gathering held in a sports arena in the West African nation.
The midweek "tragic" incident appeared to have been triggered by "a sudden rush of candidates who breached security protocols and rushed into the gates," announced a release from Ghana's armed forces.
Twenty-two others were injured, including five who are in serious state.
A large crowd had gathered at the El-Wak sports venue, in the capital, Accra, with the aspiration of enlisting in the military.
The country has a youth unemployment rate of approximately thirty-two percent, the most recent government statistics show, and such enlistment drives normally attract massive gatherings and often result in disorderly situations.
The deadline to submit applications for this event was extended by a week to allow for more applicants, as some had experienced difficulties in the application procedure.
Army spokesperson Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin said the stampede occurred before the planned commencement time of 06:20 GMT.
The nation's leader President John Mahama has gone to see the injured in medical care.
Order has been reestablished, and the recruitment exercise has now begun.
