No Fewer Than Six Lose Their Lives in Crowd Crush at Ghana Armed Forces Enlistment Drive
At least six individuals have lost their lives during a stampede at a armed forces enlistment event held in a stadium in Ghana.
The Wednesday's "tragic" event seems to have been triggered by "a sudden rush of candidates who breached security protocols and stormed the entrances," announced a release from Ghana's armed forces.
Twenty-two others were injured, among them five who remain in critical condition.
A large crowd had gathered at the El-Wak sports venue, in the main city, the capital, with the hope of joining the military.
Ghana has a rate of joblessness among young people of approximately thirty-two percent, the latest government statistics indicate, and such enlistment drives normally attract massive gatherings and often result in chaotic scenes.
The deadline to apply for this recruitment was prolonged for a week to allow for additional candidates, as a number had faced difficulties in the application procedure.
Military representative Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the stampede occurred before the planned commencement time of 06:20 GMT.
The nation's leader President John Mahama has gone to see the injured in hospital.
Order has been restored, and the recruitment exercise has since begun.
