No Fewer Than 6 Perish in Stampede at Ghana Military Recruitment Event
At least six individuals have lost their lives amid a crowd crush at a armed forces enlistment event held in a sports arena in Ghana.
The midweek "tragic" event seems to have been caused by "an unexpected surge of candidates who overcame security measures and rushed into the entrances," announced a release from Ghana's armed forces.
22 additional individuals were hurt, including five who are in serious state.
A large crowd had turned up at El-Wak stadium, in the main city, Accra, 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 show, and such recruitment events typically attract massive gatherings and often result in chaotic scenes.
The deadline to apply for this event was prolonged for a week to accommodate additional candidates, as a number had faced challenges in the application procedure.
Military representative Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin said the stampede occurred ahead of the event's scheduled start of 06:20 GMT.
Ghana's President John Mahama has gone to see the injured in medical care.
Order has been reestablished, and the enlistment process has since started.
