No Fewer Than 6 Perish in Stampede at Ghana Military Recruitment Event
At least six people have lost their lives amid a stampede at a armed forces enlistment event held in a stadium in the West African nation.
The Wednesday's "tragic" incident appeared to have been caused by "a sudden rush of candidates who overcame security measures and stormed the gates," stated a release from the nation's military.
Twenty-two additional individuals were injured, among them five who remain in serious state.
Thousands had turned up at El-Wak stadium, in the capital, Accra, with the aspiration of joining the armed forces.
Ghana has a youth unemployment rate of approximately 32%, the most recent government statistics indicate, and such enlistment drives normally draw massive gatherings and often lead to chaotic scenes.
The deadline to submit applications for this event was prolonged for a week to allow for more applicants, as a number had faced difficulties in the process.
Military representative Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the crush took place before the event's scheduled start of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
Ghana's President President John Mahama has visited the wounded in medical care.
Calm has been reestablished, and the recruitment exercise has since started.