No Fewer Than 6 Perish in Stampede at Ghanaian Military Recruitment Event
At least 6 individuals have lost their lives during a crowd crush at a military recruitment gathering held in a sports arena in Ghana.
The midweek "tragic" incident appeared to have been triggered by "a sudden rush of candidates who breached security protocols and rushed into the gates," announced a release from Ghana's armed forces.
Twenty-two others were hurt, among them five who are in critical condition.
Thousands had turned up at El-Wak stadium, in the main city, Accra, with the hope of joining the military.
Ghana has a youth unemployment rate of approximately 32%, the latest official data indicate, and such recruitment events normally attract massive gatherings and often result in chaotic scenes.
The deadline to apply for this event was extended by a week to accommodate additional candidates, as some had experienced difficulties in the application procedure.
Army spokesperson Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the stampede took place before the planned commencement time of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
The nation's leader President John Mahama has gone to see the wounded in hospital.
Order has been reestablished, and the recruitment exercise has now begun.
