At Least 6 Perish in Stampede at Ghanaian Military Recruitment Event
At least 6 individuals have lost their lives amid a stampede at a armed forces enlistment event held in a stadium in the West African nation.
The midweek "tragic" event seems to have been caused by "an unexpected surge of candidates who breached security protocols and stormed the gates," announced a release from Ghana's armed forces.
Twenty-two others were hurt, including 5 who are in serious state.
A large crowd had gathered at the El-Wak sports venue, in the main city, Accra, with the hope of enlisting in the military.
The country has a rate of joblessness among young people of about thirty-two percent, the latest official data indicate, and such recruitment events typically attract large crowds and often lead to chaotic scenes.
The closing date to apply for this recruitment was extended by a week to accommodate additional candidates, as some had faced challenges in the application procedure.
Army spokesperson Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin said the crush took place ahead of the event's scheduled start of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
The nation's leader President John Mahama has visited the injured in medical care.
Order has been reestablished, and the recruitment exercise has now begun.
