No Fewer Than Six Lose Their Lives in Crowd Crush at Ghanaian Armed Forces Enlistment Drive
At least 6 people have died amid a stampede at a military recruitment event held in a stadium in Ghana.
The midweek "tragic" event appeared to have been caused by "a sudden rush of applicants who overcame security measures and stormed the gates," stated a release from the nation's military.
22 others were injured, including five who are in serious state.
A large crowd had turned up at El-Wak stadium, in the main city, Accra, with the hope of joining the armed forces.
The country has a youth unemployment rate of about thirty-two percent, the most recent government statistics show, and such enlistment drives normally attract large crowds and often result in disorderly situations.
The closing date to apply for this event was prolonged for a week to accommodate more applicants, as some had experienced challenges in the application procedure.
Military representative Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the stampede occurred before the planned commencement time of 06:20 GMT.
Ghana's President John Mahama has visited the wounded in hospital.
Calm has been restored, and the enlistment process has since started.
