No Fewer Than Six Perish in Crowd Crush at Ghana Military Recruitment Event
No fewer than 6 individuals have lost their lives amid a stampede at a armed forces enlistment gathering held in a stadium in Ghana.
The midweek "devastating" incident appeared to have been triggered by "an unexpected surge of candidates who breached security protocols and rushed into the gates," announced a release from Ghana's armed forces.
Twenty-two others were hurt, including 5 who remain in critical condition.
A large crowd had gathered at El-Wak stadium, in the capital, the capital, with the hope of enlisting in the armed forces.
Ghana has a youth unemployment rate of about 32%, the most recent government statistics show, and such recruitment events normally draw massive gatherings and often result in disorderly situations.
The deadline to apply for this recruitment was extended by a seven days to accommodate more applicants, as a number had experienced challenges in the process.
Army spokesperson Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin said the stampede took place before the planned commencement time of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
The nation's leader President John Mahama has visited the injured in hospital.
Calm has been reestablished, and the enlistment process has since started.
