At Least 6 Perish in Crowd Crush at Ghana Armed Forces Enlistment Event
At least six people have lost their lives amid a stampede at a military recruitment gathering held in a sports arena in Ghana.
The midweek "tragic" event seems to have been caused by "a sudden rush of candidates who breached security protocols and stormed the gates," announced a release from Ghana's armed forces.
Twenty-two additional individuals were hurt, among them five who remain in serious state.
Thousands had gathered at the El-Wak sports venue, in the main city, the capital, with the hope of joining the armed forces.
The country has a youth unemployment rate of about 32%, the latest government statistics show, and such recruitment events typically draw large crowds and frequently lead to disorderly situations.
The deadline to apply for this event was prolonged for a seven days to accommodate additional candidates, as some had experienced difficulties in the process.
Military representative Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the crush took place before the planned commencement time of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
The nation's leader President John Mahama has gone to see the wounded in hospital.
Order has been restored, and the enlistment process has now begun.
