No Fewer Than 6 Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghanaian Armed Forces Enlistment Drive
At least six people have died during a stampede at a military recruitment event held in a stadium in the West African nation.
The midweek "devastating" incident seems to have been caused by "an unexpected surge of applicants who overcame security measures and stormed the entrances," stated a release from Ghana's armed forces.
Twenty-two additional individuals were hurt, among them five who remain in serious state.
Thousands had turned up at El-Wak stadium, in the main city, Accra, with the aspiration of joining the armed forces.
Ghana has a rate of joblessness among young people of about 32%, the most recent official data show, and such recruitment events typically draw large crowds and frequently result in chaotic scenes.
The closing date to apply for this recruitment was prolonged for a seven days to allow for more applicants, as a number had faced difficulties in the process.
Military representative Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the crush occurred before the planned commencement time of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
The nation's leader John Mahama has visited the injured in medical care.
Order has been restored, and the recruitment exercise has since started.
