No Fewer Than 6 Perish in Stampede at Ghana Armed Forces Enlistment Event
At least 6 individuals have died amid a crowd crush at a military recruitment event held in a sports arena in Ghana.
The midweek "tragic" event seems to have been caused by "a sudden rush of applicants who breached security protocols and rushed into the entrances," announced a release from Ghana's armed forces.
22 additional individuals were hurt, including five who remain in critical condition.
A large crowd had gathered at El-Wak stadium, in the main city, Accra, with the hope of enlisting in the armed forces.
Ghana has a rate of joblessness among young people of about thirty-two percent, the most recent official data show, and such recruitment events typically attract large crowds and often result in disorderly situations.
The closing date to apply for this event was prolonged for a week to accommodate more applicants, as some had faced challenges in the process.
Military representative Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the stampede took place ahead of the planned commencement time of 06:20 GMT.
The nation's leader John Mahama has gone to see the injured in hospital.
Calm has been restored, and the enlistment process has since started.
