No Fewer Than Six Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghanaian Armed Forces Enlistment Drive
No fewer than 6 people have died during a crowd crush at a armed forces enlistment gathering held in a stadium in Ghana.
The Wednesday's "devastating" event appeared to have been triggered by "an unexpected surge of candidates who overcame security measures and rushed into the gates," stated a statement from Ghana's armed forces.
Twenty-two others were injured, including five who remain in critical condition.
A large crowd had turned up at El-Wak stadium, in the main city, the capital, with the hope of joining the military.
The country has a youth unemployment rate of approximately 32%, the most recent official data show, and such enlistment drives normally draw large crowds and often result in disorderly situations.
The closing date to apply for this event was extended by a week to accommodate more applicants, as a number had faced challenges in the application procedure.
Military representative Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin said the crush took place ahead of the event's scheduled start of 06:20 GMT.
The nation's leader John Mahama has visited the wounded in medical care.
Calm has been reestablished, and the enlistment process has now begun.
