At Least Six Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghana Armed Forces Enlistment Drive
No fewer than 6 individuals have died amid a stampede at a military recruitment event held in a sports arena in the West African nation.
The Wednesday's "tragic" event seems to have been caused by "a sudden rush of applicants who breached security protocols and rushed into the gates," announced a release from Ghana's armed forces.
Twenty-two additional individuals were injured, including five who remain in serious state.
Thousands had turned up at El-Wak stadium, in the main city, Accra, with the aspiration of joining the military.
Ghana has a youth unemployment rate of approximately 32%, the most recent government statistics indicate, and such recruitment events typically draw large crowds and frequently lead to disorderly situations.
The deadline to apply for this event was extended by a week to allow for more applicants, as some had experienced challenges in the process.
Military representative Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the stampede took place before the planned commencement time of 06:20 GMT.
The nation's leader President John Mahama has gone to see the injured in medical care.
Calm has been reestablished, and the enlistment process has since started.
