At Least 6 Perish in Stampede at Ghanaian Armed Forces Enlistment Drive
No fewer than six individuals have died during a crowd crush at a armed forces enlistment gathering held in a stadium in the West African nation.
The Wednesday's "tragic" incident appeared to have been caused by "an unexpected surge of applicants who breached security protocols and stormed the entrances," stated a statement from Ghana's armed forces.
Twenty-two others were injured, among them five who remain in critical condition.
Thousands had gathered at the El-Wak sports venue, in the main city, Accra, with the hope of joining the armed forces.
Ghana has a youth unemployment rate of approximately thirty-two percent, the most recent official data indicate, and such recruitment events typically attract massive gatherings and frequently result in disorderly situations.
The deadline to apply for this event was prolonged for a seven days to allow for more applicants, as a number had faced difficulties in the process.
Army spokesperson Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the stampede occurred ahead of the event's scheduled start of 06:20 GMT.
The nation's leader John Mahama has visited the injured in hospital.
Calm has been reestablished, and the recruitment exercise has since started.
