No Fewer Than 6 Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghana Military Recruitment Drive
No fewer than 6 individuals have died amid a crowd crush at a military recruitment gathering held in a sports arena in the West African nation.
The midweek "devastating" event appeared to have been caused by "a sudden rush of applicants who overcame security measures and rushed into the gates," announced a statement from Ghana's armed forces.
22 additional individuals were hurt, among them 5 who are in serious state.
Thousands had gathered at the El-Wak sports venue, in the main city, Accra, with the hope of enlisting in the armed forces.
The country has a youth unemployment rate of about thirty-two percent, the most recent government statistics show, and such recruitment events normally draw massive gatherings and frequently lead to chaotic scenes.
The closing date to submit applications for this recruitment was extended by a week to accommodate more applicants, as a number had faced challenges in the application procedure.
Military representative Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin said the crush occurred ahead of the event's scheduled start of 06:20 GMT.
Ghana's President President John Mahama has visited the wounded in medical care.
Calm has been reestablished, and the enlistment process has now begun.
