No Fewer Than Six Perish in Stampede at Ghanaian Military Recruitment Drive
At least 6 people have lost their lives during a crowd crush at a armed forces enlistment event held in a sports arena in the West African nation.
The Wednesday's "tragic" event seems to have been caused by "a sudden rush of applicants who overcame security measures and stormed the entrances," announced a statement from the nation's military.
22 additional individuals were hurt, among them five who remain in serious state.
Thousands had turned up at the El-Wak sports venue, in the main city, the capital, with the aspiration of joining the military.
Ghana has a rate of joblessness among young people of approximately thirty-two percent, the most recent official data indicate, and such enlistment drives normally draw large crowds and often result in chaotic scenes.
The closing date to apply for this event was prolonged for a seven days to allow for additional candidates, as some had faced difficulties in the application procedure.
Army spokesperson Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin said the stampede 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.
Order has been reestablished, and the enlistment process has now begun.