No Fewer Than Six Perish in Stampede at Ghanaian Military Recruitment Event
At least six people have lost their lives amid a crowd crush at a armed forces enlistment gathering held in a sports arena in the West African nation.
The Wednesday's "tragic" event appeared to have been caused by "a sudden rush of candidates who overcame security measures and rushed into the entrances," stated a release from the nation's military.
Twenty-two others were injured, including five who are in critical condition.
Thousands had turned up at the El-Wak sports venue, in the main city, the capital, with the aspiration of joining the armed forces.
Ghana has a youth unemployment rate of approximately thirty-two percent, the most recent government statistics indicate, and such recruitment events normally attract massive gatherings and often lead to chaotic scenes.
The deadline to apply for this recruitment was prolonged for a week to accommodate more applicants, as some had faced difficulties in the application procedure.
Military representative Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin said the stampede took place before the planned commencement time of 06:20 GMT.
The nation's leader President John Mahama has gone to see the injured in medical care.
Order has been reestablished, and the enlistment process has since started.
