No Fewer Than Six Perish in Stampede at Ghana Armed Forces Enlistment Event
At least six people have lost their lives amid a stampede at a armed forces enlistment event held in a sports arena in the West African nation.
The midweek "devastating" event seems to have been caused by "an unexpected surge of applicants who overcame security measures and rushed into the gates," stated a release from Ghana's armed forces.
Twenty-two additional individuals were hurt, among them 5 who remain in critical condition.
Thousands had gathered at El-Wak stadium, in the main city, Accra, with the aspiration of joining 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 enlistment drives typically draw massive gatherings and often lead to chaotic scenes.
The deadline to submit applications for this recruitment was extended by a week to allow for more applicants, as a number had faced difficulties in the process.
Military representative Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin said the stampede occurred before the event's scheduled start of 06:20 GMT.
Ghana's President John Mahama has visited the wounded in medical care.
Calm has been restored, and the enlistment process has since started.
