At Least 6 Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghana Military Recruitment Event
At least 6 individuals have died amid a stampede at a armed forces enlistment gathering held in a stadium in the West African nation.
The midweek "devastating" incident appeared to have been triggered by "a sudden rush of applicants who overcame security measures and rushed into the gates," stated a statement from Ghana's armed forces.
22 additional individuals were hurt, among them five who remain in critical condition.
Thousands had gathered at El-Wak stadium, in the capital, Accra, with the hope of joining the armed forces.
Ghana has a youth unemployment rate of about thirty-two percent, the most recent government statistics indicate, and such enlistment drives typically draw massive gatherings and often lead to disorderly situations.
The closing date to apply for this event was prolonged for a week to accommodate more applicants, as a number had faced difficulties in the process.
Army spokesperson Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin said the crush occurred ahead of the planned commencement time of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
Ghana's President John Mahama has visited the injured in medical care.
Calm has been reestablished, and the recruitment exercise has now started.
