No Fewer Than Six Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghanaian Military Recruitment Drive
At least 6 people have died amid a crowd crush at a armed forces enlistment gathering held in a stadium 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 entrances," stated a statement from the nation's military.
Twenty-two others were injured, among them five who remain in critical condition.
A large crowd had turned up at El-Wak stadium, in the main city, the capital, with the hope of enlisting in the military.
The country has a youth unemployment rate of approximately 32%, the most recent government statistics show, and such recruitment events typically draw massive gatherings and often lead to chaotic scenes.
The deadline to submit applications for this recruitment was prolonged for a week to accommodate more applicants, as a number had experienced difficulties in the application procedure.
Military representative Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin said the crush took place before the event's scheduled start of 06:20 GMT.
The nation's leader John Mahama has gone to see the wounded in medical care.
Calm has been restored, and the recruitment exercise has since begun.
