No Fewer Than 6 Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghana Armed Forces Enlistment Event
At least six people have lost their lives during a crowd crush at a armed forces enlistment gathering held in a stadium in Ghana.
The Wednesday's "tragic" event seems to have been triggered by "an unexpected surge of applicants who overcame security measures and stormed the entrances," announced a statement from the nation's military.
22 others were injured, including 5 who remain in critical condition.
A large crowd had gathered at the El-Wak sports venue, in the main city, the capital, with the aspiration of enlisting in the armed forces.
Ghana has a rate of joblessness among young people of approximately thirty-two percent, the most recent government statistics show, and such enlistment drives normally attract massive gatherings and often result in disorderly situations.
The deadline to apply for this event was prolonged for a week to accommodate additional candidates, as some had experienced difficulties in the process.
Military representative Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin said the stampede took place before the event's scheduled start of 06:20 GMT.
Ghana's President President John Mahama has visited the injured in hospital.
Order has been restored, and the recruitment exercise has since begun.
