At Least Six Perish in Crowd Crush at Ghanaian Military Recruitment Drive
No fewer than 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 triggered by "a sudden rush of candidates who breached security protocols and rushed into the entrances," stated a release from the nation's military.
Twenty-two additional individuals were hurt, including five who are in serious state.
A large crowd had gathered at El-Wak stadium, in the main city, the capital, with the aspiration of enlisting in the military.
The country has a rate of joblessness among young people of approximately thirty-two percent, the most recent government statistics show, and such recruitment events typically attract massive gatherings and often result in chaotic scenes.
The closing date to apply for this recruitment was prolonged for a week to accommodate more applicants, as some had experienced difficulties in the application procedure.
Military representative Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin said the crush occurred before the planned commencement time of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
Ghana's President John Mahama has gone to see the wounded in medical care.
Order has been reestablished, and the recruitment exercise has since started.
