No Fewer Than 6 Lose Their Lives in Crowd Crush at Ghana Military Recruitment Drive
At least six individuals have lost their lives during a stampede at a military recruitment gathering held in a stadium in Ghana.
The midweek "tragic" event appeared to have been caused by "an unexpected surge of applicants who breached security protocols and stormed the gates," announced a statement from Ghana's armed forces.
22 others were injured, including 5 who remain in critical condition.
A large crowd had gathered at El-Wak stadium, in the main city, Accra, with the aspiration of joining the armed forces.
Ghana has a youth unemployment rate of approximately thirty-two percent, the most recent government statistics show, and such recruitment events typically draw large crowds and often result in chaotic scenes.
The closing date to apply for this recruitment was prolonged for a week to accommodate additional candidates, as a number had experienced 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 gone to see the wounded in medical care.
Order has been restored, and the enlistment process has now begun.
