At Least 6 Perish in Stampede at Ghanaian Military Recruitment Event
At least six people have lost their lives during a stampede at a armed forces enlistment gathering 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 rushed into the entrances," stated a statement from Ghana's armed forces.
Twenty-two additional individuals were injured, among them 5 who remain in serious state.
A large crowd had turned up at the El-Wak sports venue, in the main city, Accra, with the hope of enlisting in the military.
The country has a rate of joblessness among young people of approximately 32%, the most recent official data show, and such recruitment events typically attract large crowds and frequently lead to disorderly situations.
The deadline to submit applications for this recruitment was prolonged for a week to allow for more applicants, as a number had faced challenges in the process.
Army spokesperson Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the stampede occurred before the planned commencement time of 06:20 GMT.
Ghana's President President John Mahama has visited the wounded in medical care.
Order has been restored, and the recruitment exercise has since begun.
