No Fewer Than 6 Perish in Stampede at Ghanaian Military Recruitment Event
At least six people have lost their lives amid a stampede at a military recruitment gathering held in a sports arena in Ghana.
The midweek "devastating" incident seems to have been triggered by "a sudden rush of applicants who breached security protocols and stormed the entrances," announced a release from Ghana's armed forces.
22 additional individuals were injured, including 5 who are in critical condition.
Thousands had gathered at the El-Wak sports venue, in the main city, the capital, with the hope of enlisting in the military.
The country has a youth unemployment rate of approximately thirty-two percent, the most recent government statistics indicate, and such recruitment events typically draw massive gatherings and often lead to disorderly situations.
The deadline to submit applications for this recruitment was prolonged for a week to allow for additional candidates, as a number had faced challenges in the application procedure.
Army spokesperson Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin said the crush occurred ahead of the event's scheduled start of 06:20 GMT.
The nation's leader President John Mahama has gone to see the wounded in hospital.
Calm has been restored, and the enlistment process has since started.
