At Least Six Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghana Armed Forces Enlistment Drive
No fewer than 6 people have lost their lives amid a crowd crush at a armed forces enlistment event held in a stadium in Ghana.
The Wednesday's "tragic" incident seems to have been caused by "a sudden rush of applicants who overcame security measures and stormed the gates," announced a statement from the nation's military.
22 others were injured, including 5 who are in critical condition.
Thousands had turned up at the El-Wak sports venue, in the capital, the capital, with the aspiration of joining the armed forces.
The country has a youth unemployment rate of approximately 32%, the latest government statistics indicate, and such enlistment drives typically draw massive gatherings and often lead to disorderly situations.
The closing date to submit applications for this recruitment was extended by a seven days to allow for additional candidates, as some had experienced challenges in the application procedure.
Military representative Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin said the stampede occurred before the event's scheduled start of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
Ghana's President President John Mahama has gone to see the wounded in medical care.
Calm has been restored, and the recruitment exercise has now begun.
