No Fewer Than Six Lose Their Lives in Crowd Crush at Ghanaian Armed Forces Enlistment Drive
At least 6 individuals have died amid a stampede at a military recruitment event held in a sports arena in Ghana.
The Wednesday's "tragic" incident appeared to have been triggered by "an unexpected surge of candidates who breached security protocols and stormed the gates," stated a release from the nation's military.
22 others were injured, including 5 who remain in critical condition.
Thousands had turned up at the El-Wak sports venue, in the capital, the capital, with the hope of joining the armed forces.
Ghana has a youth unemployment rate of approximately thirty-two percent, the latest government statistics show, and such enlistment drives normally draw massive gatherings and often lead to chaotic scenes.
The deadline to submit applications for this event was extended by a week to allow for additional candidates, as a number had experienced difficulties in the process.
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 President John Mahama has gone to see the injured in hospital.
Calm has been restored, and the enlistment process has now begun.
