No Fewer Than Six Perish in Stampede at Ghana Military Recruitment Event
At least 6 people have lost their lives amid a stampede at a military recruitment gathering held in a stadium in Ghana.
The midweek "devastating" incident appeared to have been caused by "a sudden rush of applicants who breached security protocols and stormed the entrances," announced a statement from Ghana's armed forces.
22 additional individuals were hurt, including 5 who are in serious state.
Thousands had turned up at the El-Wak sports venue, in the capital, the capital, with the aspiration of joining the military.
Ghana has a youth unemployment rate of about 32%, the most recent government statistics show, and such enlistment drives typically draw large crowds and frequently lead to disorderly situations.
The closing date to apply for this recruitment was extended by a week to allow for additional candidates, as a number had experienced difficulties in the process.
Army spokesperson Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin said the stampede occurred ahead of the event's scheduled start of 06:20 GMT.
The nation's leader President John Mahama has gone to see the injured in medical care.
Calm has been restored, and the enlistment process has since started.
