No Fewer Than 6 Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghanaian Armed Forces Enlistment Drive
At least 6 individuals have died amid a stampede at a military recruitment event held in a sports arena in the West African nation.
The midweek "devastating" event appeared to have been caused by "an unexpected surge of applicants who breached security protocols and rushed into the entrances," stated a release from Ghana's armed forces.
22 others were hurt, among them five who remain in critical condition.
A large crowd had gathered at the El-Wak sports venue, in the main city, Accra, with the aspiration of joining the military.
The country has a youth unemployment rate of about thirty-two percent, the most recent official data show, and such recruitment events normally draw massive gatherings and often result in chaotic scenes.
The deadline to submit applications for this recruitment was extended by a week to accommodate additional candidates, as a number had faced difficulties in the process.
Military representative Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin said the crush took place before the event's scheduled start of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
The nation's leader President John Mahama has gone to see the injured in medical care.
Calm has been reestablished, and the enlistment process has now begun.
