No Fewer Than 6 Lose Their Lives in Crowd Crush at Ghanaian Military Recruitment Drive
No fewer than six individuals have died amid a stampede at a military recruitment gathering held in a stadium in the West African nation.
The midweek "tragic" event seems to have been triggered by "an unexpected surge of candidates who overcame security measures and stormed the entrances," stated a release from Ghana's armed forces.
Twenty-two additional individuals were injured, including five who remain in serious state.
A large crowd had gathered at El-Wak stadium, in the main city, the capital, with the hope of enlisting in the military.
Ghana has a rate of joblessness among young people of approximately thirty-two percent, the latest government statistics show, and such enlistment drives normally draw large crowds and often lead to chaotic scenes.
The deadline to submit applications for this recruitment was prolonged for a seven days to accommodate more applicants, as a number had experienced difficulties in the application procedure.
Military representative Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the stampede took place before the planned commencement time of 06:20 GMT.
The nation's leader President John Mahama has visited the injured in medical care.
Order has been restored, and the enlistment process has since begun.
