No Fewer Than 6 Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghanaian Military Recruitment Drive
At least six individuals have lost their lives during a crowd crush at a armed forces enlistment gathering held in a sports arena in the West African nation.
The Wednesday's "devastating" event appeared to have been caused by "a sudden rush of candidates who overcame security measures and stormed the gates," announced a statement from Ghana's armed forces.
Twenty-two additional individuals were injured, including five who remain 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.
The country has a rate of joblessness among young people of about 32%, the latest official data show, and such recruitment events typically draw massive gatherings and often lead to disorderly situations.
The deadline to apply for this event was prolonged for a week to allow for more applicants, as a number had faced difficulties in the application procedure.
Army spokesperson Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the stampede occurred before the event's scheduled start of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
Ghana's President President John Mahama has gone to see the wounded in hospital.
Order has been restored, and the recruitment exercise has since begun.
