No Fewer Than Six Perish in Crowd Crush at Ghanaian Military Recruitment Drive
At least 6 individuals have lost their lives amid a stampede at a military recruitment event held in a sports arena in the West African nation.
The midweek "tragic" incident appeared to have been triggered by "a sudden rush of applicants who overcame security measures and rushed into the entrances," stated a release from the nation's military.
22 others were hurt, including 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.
The country has a rate of joblessness among young people of about thirty-two percent, the latest government statistics show, and such recruitment events typically draw large crowds and frequently result in disorderly situations.
The deadline to submit applications for this event was prolonged for a week to accommodate more applicants, as a number had faced 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.
