At Least 6 Lose Their Lives in Crowd Crush at Ghanaian Armed Forces Enlistment Drive
At least six individuals have died during a stampede at a military recruitment event held in a stadium in Ghana.
The midweek "devastating" event seems to have been triggered by "an unexpected surge of candidates who overcame security measures and stormed the gates," announced a release from Ghana's armed forces.
Twenty-two additional individuals were injured, including five who remain in critical condition.
Thousands had gathered at the El-Wak sports venue, in the main city, the capital, with the aspiration of enlisting in the armed forces.
Ghana has a rate of joblessness among young people of approximately 32%, the most recent official data show, and such enlistment drives normally draw massive gatherings and frequently result in chaotic scenes.
The closing date to apply for this recruitment was prolonged for a week to accommodate more applicants, as some had faced challenges in the application procedure.
Military representative Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin said the stampede occurred ahead of the event's scheduled start of 06:20 GMT.
The nation's leader John Mahama has visited the wounded in medical care.
Order has been reestablished, and the enlistment process has now begun.
