At Least 6 Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghana Armed Forces Enlistment Event
No fewer than 6 people have lost their lives during a crowd crush at a military recruitment event held in a stadium in the West African nation.
The Wednesday's "tragic" event seems to have been caused by "an unexpected surge of candidates who overcame security measures and stormed the gates," stated a statement from the nation's military.
Twenty-two others were injured, including 5 who remain in serious state.
A large crowd had turned up at the El-Wak sports venue, in the capital, the capital, with the aspiration of joining the military.
Ghana has a youth unemployment rate of approximately thirty-two percent, the latest government statistics indicate, and such enlistment drives normally attract large crowds and frequently lead to chaotic scenes.
The deadline to submit applications for this recruitment was prolonged for a seven days to allow for more applicants, as a number had faced challenges in the process.
Military representative Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin said the crush took place ahead of the event's scheduled start of 06:20 GMT.
Ghana's President President John Mahama has visited the wounded in hospital.
Calm has been reestablished, and the recruitment exercise has since started.
