At Least Six Perish in Stampede at Ghanaian Armed Forces Enlistment Event
At least six people have lost their lives amid a stampede at a military recruitment event held in a stadium in Ghana.
The midweek "devastating" incident appeared to have been triggered by "an unexpected surge of candidates who breached security protocols and rushed into the entrances," stated a release from the nation's military.
22 additional individuals were hurt, including 5 who are in serious state.
A large crowd had gathered at El-Wak stadium, in the main city, the capital, with the hope of enlisting in the military.
Ghana has a rate of joblessness among young people of approximately 32%, the latest official data indicate, and such recruitment events typically draw large crowds and frequently result in chaotic scenes.
The closing date to apply for this event was extended by a week to allow for more applicants, as some had faced difficulties in the process.
Military representative Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin said the stampede occurred ahead of the event's scheduled start of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
Ghana's President John Mahama has visited the injured in hospital.
Calm has been reestablished, and the enlistment process has since begun.
