No Fewer Than Six Perish in Stampede at Ghana Military Recruitment Event
No fewer than six individuals have died during a crowd crush at a military recruitment event held in a sports arena in the West African nation.
The midweek "tragic" event seems to have been caused by "an unexpected surge of applicants who overcame security measures and rushed into the gates," announced a statement from the nation's military.
22 others were hurt, including five who remain in serious state.
A large crowd had turned up at the El-Wak sports venue, in the main city, the capital, with the hope of joining the armed forces.
Ghana has a rate of joblessness among young people of approximately thirty-two percent, the latest official data show, and such recruitment events normally attract large crowds and often lead to chaotic scenes.
The closing date to submit applications for this event was extended by a seven days to allow for additional candidates, as a number had faced challenges in the application procedure.
Army spokesperson Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin said the crush occurred ahead of the planned commencement time of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
The nation's leader John Mahama has visited the wounded in medical care.
Calm has been reestablished, and the enlistment process has now begun.
