At Least 6 Perish in Stampede at Ghanaian Armed Forces Enlistment Drive
No fewer than 6 individuals have lost their lives amid a crowd crush at a armed forces enlistment gathering held in a sports arena in Ghana.
The midweek "tragic" event seems to have been caused by "an unexpected surge of candidates who breached security protocols and rushed into the gates," stated a release from the nation's military.
Twenty-two additional individuals were hurt, among them five who remain in critical condition.
Thousands had turned up at El-Wak stadium, in the main city, Accra, with the aspiration of enlisting in the armed forces.
Ghana has a youth unemployment rate of about thirty-two percent, the latest official data indicate, and such recruitment events typically attract large crowds and often result in disorderly situations.
The deadline to submit applications for this event was extended by a week to accommodate more applicants, as some had faced challenges in the process.
Military representative Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the crush took place before the planned commencement time of 06:20 GMT.
Ghana's President President John Mahama has gone to see the injured in hospital.
Calm has been reestablished, and the recruitment exercise has since started.
