No Fewer Than Six Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghanaian Military Recruitment Event
At least six individuals have lost their lives amid a crowd crush at a armed forces enlistment gathering held in a stadium in Ghana.
The Wednesday's "tragic" event seems to have been caused by "a sudden rush of applicants who breached security protocols and stormed the entrances," stated a release from Ghana's armed forces.
22 additional individuals were hurt, among them five who remain in critical condition.
Thousands had turned up at El-Wak stadium, in the main city, Accra, with the hope of enlisting in the military.
The country has a rate of joblessness among young people of approximately 32%, the most recent government statistics show, and such recruitment events typically attract massive gatherings and often result in disorderly situations.
The closing date to submit applications for this event was prolonged for a week to allow for additional candidates, as some had experienced difficulties in the process.
Military representative Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the stampede occurred before the planned commencement time of 06:20 GMT.
Ghana's President John Mahama has visited the injured in medical care.
Calm has been restored, and the recruitment exercise has since started.
