No Fewer Than Six Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghana Armed Forces Enlistment Drive
No fewer than six people have died amid a crowd crush at a military recruitment gathering held in a sports arena in the West African nation.
The midweek "devastating" incident seems to have been caused by "a sudden rush of applicants who breached security protocols and rushed into the gates," stated a statement from the nation's military.
22 others were hurt, including 5 who remain in serious state.
A large crowd had gathered at the El-Wak sports venue, in the main city, the capital, with the hope of joining the military.
The country has a youth unemployment rate of approximately thirty-two percent, the latest government statistics show, and such enlistment drives typically draw massive gatherings and often lead to chaotic scenes.
The closing date to submit applications for this recruitment was extended by a week to allow for additional candidates, as a number had experienced difficulties in the application procedure.
Military representative Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the crush took place ahead of the event's scheduled start of 06:20 GMT.
The nation's leader President John Mahama has gone to see the injured in hospital.
Order has been reestablished, and the enlistment process has now begun.
