At Least 6 Perish in Crowd Crush at Ghana Military Recruitment Event
At least six individuals have lost their lives amid a stampede at a armed forces enlistment event held in a sports arena in Ghana.
The Wednesday's "tragic" event seems to have been triggered by "a sudden rush of applicants who breached security protocols and stormed the entrances," announced a release from the nation's military.
22 others were hurt, including five who are in serious state.
Thousands had gathered at El-Wak stadium, in the main city, Accra, with the hope of joining the armed forces.
The country has a rate of joblessness among young people of approximately thirty-two percent, the latest government statistics indicate, and such recruitment events typically draw large crowds and often lead to chaotic scenes.
The closing date to submit applications for this recruitment was extended by a seven days to accommodate additional candidates, as some had faced difficulties in the application procedure.
Military representative Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the stampede took place before the planned commencement time of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
The nation's leader President John Mahama has visited the injured in medical care.
Calm has been reestablished, and the recruitment exercise has now begun.
