At Least Six Perish in Stampede at Ghanaian Military Recruitment Event
At least six individuals have lost their lives amid a stampede at a armed forces enlistment event held in a stadium in Ghana.
The midweek "tragic" event appeared to have been caused by "a sudden rush of applicants who breached security protocols and rushed into the gates," announced a statement from Ghana's armed forces.
Twenty-two additional individuals were injured, including five who remain in serious state.
A large crowd had gathered at the El-Wak sports venue, in the main city, the capital, with the hope of enlisting in the military.
Ghana has a youth unemployment rate of approximately 32%, the latest government statistics indicate, and such recruitment events typically attract large crowds and often lead to disorderly situations.
The closing date to submit applications for this event was extended by a week to accommodate additional candidates, as some had faced difficulties in the application procedure.
Military representative Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the crush occurred ahead of the planned commencement time of 06:20 GMT.
The nation's leader John Mahama has visited the wounded in hospital.
Order has been reestablished, and the recruitment exercise has now begun.
