At Least Six Perish in Stampede at Ghanaian Armed Forces Enlistment Drive
At least six individuals have lost their lives during a crowd crush at a armed forces enlistment event held in a sports arena in the West African nation.
The midweek "tragic" event appeared to have been triggered by "a sudden rush of candidates who overcame security measures and rushed into the entrances," announced a release from Ghana's armed forces.
22 additional individuals were hurt, including five who are in critical condition.
Thousands had turned up at El-Wak stadium, in the capital, the capital, with the aspiration of enlisting in the military.
The country has a youth unemployment rate of about thirty-two percent, the most recent official data indicate, and such recruitment events typically draw large crowds and frequently result in chaotic scenes.
The deadline to submit applications for this recruitment was prolonged for a week to allow for more applicants, as some had faced challenges in the process.
Military representative Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin said the crush occurred 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 reestablished, and the recruitment exercise has now begun.
