No Fewer Than Six Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghanaian Military Recruitment Event
At least six people have lost their lives amid a stampede at a military recruitment event held in a sports arena in Ghana.
The Wednesday's "tragic" incident appeared to have been triggered by "an unexpected surge of applicants who overcame security measures and rushed into the gates," stated a release from Ghana's armed forces.
22 additional individuals were hurt, among them 5 who are in critical condition.
A large crowd had gathered at the El-Wak sports venue, in the capital, the capital, with the hope of enlisting in the armed forces.
Ghana has a rate of joblessness among young people of approximately thirty-two percent, the latest official data indicate, and such enlistment drives normally draw massive gatherings and frequently result in disorderly situations.
The deadline to apply for this event was extended by a week to allow for more applicants, as some had experienced difficulties in the application procedure.
Army spokesperson Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin said the stampede took place ahead of the planned commencement time of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
Ghana's President John Mahama has gone to see the injured in hospital.
Calm has been reestablished, and the enlistment process has now started.
