No Fewer Than Six Lose Their Lives in Crowd Crush at Ghana Armed Forces Enlistment Drive
At least six individuals have died amid a stampede at a military recruitment event held in a sports arena in the West African nation.
The Wednesday's "tragic" event appeared to have been caused by "a sudden rush of applicants who breached security protocols and stormed the gates," stated a release from Ghana's armed forces.
Twenty-two others were hurt, including 5 who are in critical condition.
Thousands had gathered at the El-Wak sports venue, in the capital, the capital, with the aspiration of joining the military.
Ghana has a rate of joblessness among young people of approximately thirty-two percent, the most recent government statistics show, and such enlistment drives normally attract massive gatherings and often lead to chaotic scenes.
The deadline to submit applications for this recruitment was prolonged for a week to accommodate additional candidates, as a number had experienced difficulties in the process.
Military representative Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin said the crush 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 injured in hospital.
Order has been reestablished, and the enlistment process has since begun.
