At Least Six Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghanaian Armed Forces Enlistment Drive
At least 6 individuals have died during a crowd crush at a military recruitment event held in a stadium in Ghana.
The midweek "devastating" event seems to have been caused by "an unexpected surge of applicants who overcame security measures and stormed the entrances," announced a release from the nation's military.
Twenty-two additional individuals were hurt, including five who are in critical condition.
Thousands had turned up at the El-Wak sports venue, in the main city, the capital, with the aspiration of joining the armed forces.
The country has a rate of joblessness among young people of about thirty-two percent, the most recent government statistics show, and such enlistment drives normally draw massive gatherings and often lead to chaotic scenes.
The deadline to submit applications for this recruitment was extended by a week to allow for more applicants, as some had experienced difficulties in the process.
Military representative Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the stampede took place before the event's scheduled start of 06:20 GMT.
The nation's leader President John Mahama has visited the wounded in hospital.
Calm has been reestablished, and the enlistment process has since begun.
