At Least 6 Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghanaian Armed Forces Enlistment Event
No fewer than 6 individuals have died amid a crowd crush at a military recruitment event held in a sports arena in Ghana.
The midweek "devastating" event appeared to have been caused by "an unexpected surge of candidates who overcame security measures and stormed the entrances," announced a statement from the nation's military.
Twenty-two others were hurt, including 5 who are in serious state.
Thousands had turned up at the El-Wak sports venue, in the main city, Accra, with the hope of enlisting in the armed forces.
Ghana has a rate of joblessness among young people of about thirty-two percent, the most recent official data show, and such recruitment events typically draw massive gatherings and frequently result in chaotic scenes.
The deadline to submit applications for this event was extended by a seven days to accommodate more applicants, as a number had faced challenges in the application procedure.
Military representative Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin said the stampede took place ahead of the planned commencement time of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
The nation's leader President John Mahama has gone to see the wounded in medical care.
Order has been reestablished, and the enlistment process has since begun.
