At Least Six Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghana Military Recruitment Event
No fewer than six people have lost their lives amid a crowd crush at a military recruitment gathering held in a stadium in the West African nation.
The midweek "tragic" event appeared to have been caused by "a sudden rush of applicants who breached security protocols and stormed the entrances," announced a statement from Ghana's armed forces.
22 others were hurt, among them five who remain in serious state.
Thousands had turned up at El-Wak stadium, in the main city, Accra, with the aspiration of joining the military.
Ghana has a rate of joblessness among young people of about thirty-two percent, the most recent government statistics indicate, and such recruitment events typically draw massive gatherings and often lead to disorderly situations.
The closing date to apply for this event was extended by a seven days to accommodate more applicants, as a number had faced difficulties in the application procedure.
Military representative Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin said the crush occurred ahead of the planned commencement time of 06:20 GMT.
The nation's leader President John Mahama has visited the injured in hospital.
Calm has been reestablished, and the enlistment process has now begun.
