No Fewer Than Six Perish in Stampede at Ghana Armed Forces Enlistment Event
No fewer than 6 individuals have lost their lives amid a crowd crush at a military recruitment event held in a stadium in Ghana.
The Wednesday's "tragic" incident appeared to have been caused by "an unexpected surge of applicants who overcame security measures and rushed into the gates," stated a release from the nation's military.
22 additional individuals were injured, including 5 who are in serious state.
Thousands had gathered at El-Wak stadium, in the capital, Accra, with the aspiration of joining the military.
The country has a youth unemployment rate of about 32%, the latest official data indicate, and such enlistment drives typically draw massive gatherings and often lead to disorderly situations.
The deadline to apply for this recruitment was extended by a week to allow for additional candidates, as a number had experienced difficulties in the application procedure.
Military representative Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin said the stampede took place ahead of the planned commencement time of 06:20 GMT.
Ghana's President President John Mahama has visited the injured in hospital.
Calm has been reestablished, and the enlistment process has since started.
