At Least Six Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghanaian Military Recruitment Event
No fewer than six people have lost their lives amid a crowd crush at a armed forces enlistment gathering held in a stadium in Ghana.
The Wednesday's "devastating" event appeared to have been triggered by "an unexpected surge of applicants who overcame security measures and rushed into the entrances," announced a release from Ghana's armed forces.
Twenty-two others were hurt, among them five who remain in critical condition.
Thousands had gathered at El-Wak stadium, in the main city, Accra, with the hope of joining the military.
The country has a rate of joblessness among young people of approximately 32%, the most recent government statistics indicate, and such recruitment events typically attract large crowds and often lead to chaotic scenes.
The deadline to submit applications for this recruitment was extended by a week to accommodate more applicants, as some had experienced challenges in the process.
Army spokesperson Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the stampede took place ahead of the event's scheduled start of 06:20 GMT.
Ghana's President President John Mahama has gone to see the injured in hospital.
Order has been reestablished, and the recruitment exercise has now begun.
