At Least 6 Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghana Military Recruitment Drive
At least six individuals have died during a stampede at a armed forces enlistment event held in a stadium in the West African nation.
The Wednesday's "devastating" event appeared to have been triggered by "a sudden rush of applicants who overcame security measures and stormed the gates," announced a statement from Ghana's armed forces.
Twenty-two others were hurt, including 5 who remain in critical condition.
Thousands had turned up at the El-Wak sports venue, in the capital, the capital, with the hope of enlisting in the armed forces.
The country has a rate of joblessness among young people of approximately thirty-two percent, the most recent official data indicate, and such recruitment events normally attract massive gatherings and frequently lead to disorderly situations.
The deadline to apply for this recruitment was prolonged for a seven days to allow for additional candidates, as some had experienced challenges in the application procedure.
Military representative Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the crush took place ahead of the event's scheduled start of 06:20 GMT.
Ghana's President President John Mahama has visited the injured in hospital.
Calm has been restored, and the enlistment process has since begun.
