At Least 6 Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghanaian Military Recruitment Event
At least 6 individuals have lost their lives during a stampede at a military recruitment event held in a stadium in Ghana.
The midweek "tragic" event seems to have been caused by "a sudden rush of applicants who overcame security measures and rushed into the gates," stated a release from the nation's military.
22 additional individuals were injured, among them 5 who remain in serious state.
A large crowd had turned up at El-Wak stadium, in the main city, Accra, with the hope of joining the armed forces.
Ghana has a rate of joblessness among young people of about 32%, the most recent government statistics show, and such recruitment events typically attract massive gatherings and often result in disorderly situations.
The deadline to apply for this recruitment was extended by a week to allow for additional candidates, as a number had experienced difficulties in the process.
Army spokesperson Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the crush took place ahead of the event's scheduled start of 06:20 GMT.
The nation's leader John Mahama has visited the injured in medical care.
Order has been reestablished, and the enlistment process has now started.
