No Fewer Than Six Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghana Military Recruitment Event
No fewer than 6 individuals have died during a stampede at a military recruitment event held in a stadium in Ghana.
The midweek "devastating" event appeared to have been caused by "an unexpected surge of candidates who breached security protocols and rushed into the gates," announced a statement from the nation's military.
Twenty-two additional individuals were hurt, including five who remain in serious state.
A large crowd had turned up at El-Wak stadium, in the main city, Accra, with the hope of joining the military.
The country has a youth unemployment rate of about thirty-two percent, the most recent official data show, and such recruitment events normally draw large crowds and frequently result in chaotic scenes.
The closing date to apply for this event was prolonged for a seven days to allow for more applicants, as a number had faced challenges in the application procedure.
Military representative Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the crush occurred before the planned commencement time of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
The nation's leader John Mahama has gone to see the wounded in hospital.
Order has been restored, and the enlistment process has now begun.
