At Least Six Perish in Stampede at Ghana Military Recruitment Event
No fewer than six individuals have lost their lives during a crowd crush at a armed forces enlistment gathering held in a sports arena in Ghana.
The Wednesday's "devastating" event appeared to have been triggered by "a sudden rush of candidates who overcame security measures and rushed into the entrances," announced a release from Ghana's armed forces.
Twenty-two others were hurt, among them 5 who are in serious state.
Thousands had gathered at El-Wak stadium, in the capital, Accra, with the aspiration of enlisting in the armed forces.
The country has a youth unemployment rate of approximately thirty-two percent, the latest official data show, and such enlistment drives normally attract massive gatherings and frequently lead to disorderly situations.
The closing date to apply for this recruitment was extended by a seven days to accommodate additional candidates, as some had faced challenges in the application procedure.
Army spokesperson Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin said the crush took place ahead of 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 reestablished, and the enlistment process has since started.
