At Least Six Lose Their Lives in Crowd Crush at Ghanaian Armed Forces Enlistment Drive
At least six individuals have died during a crowd crush at a armed forces enlistment gathering held in a sports arena in Ghana.
The Wednesday's "devastating" incident appeared to have been triggered by "a sudden rush of candidates who breached security protocols and stormed the gates," announced a release from the nation's military.
Twenty-two additional individuals were injured, among them 5 who remain in critical condition.
Thousands had turned up at El-Wak stadium, in the capital, Accra, with the aspiration of joining the military.
The country has a youth unemployment rate of about thirty-two percent, the latest government statistics indicate, and such recruitment events typically attract massive gatherings and often lead to disorderly situations.
The closing date to submit applications for this event was prolonged for a seven days to accommodate more applicants, as a number had faced challenges in the process.
Army spokesperson Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the stampede took place ahead of the planned commencement time of 06:20 GMT.
Ghana's President John Mahama has gone to see the wounded in medical care.
Order has been restored, and the enlistment process has since begun.
