At Least Six Lose Their Lives in Crowd Crush at Ghanaian Armed Forces Enlistment Event
No fewer than six individuals have lost their lives during a crowd crush at a armed forces enlistment gathering held in a sports arena in Ghana.
The Wednesday's "devastating" incident seems to have been triggered by "an unexpected surge of candidates who overcame security measures and stormed the gates," stated a release from the nation's military.
Twenty-two others were hurt, among them 5 who remain in critical condition.
Thousands had gathered at El-Wak stadium, in the capital, 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 latest government statistics show, and such enlistment drives typically draw massive gatherings and frequently result in chaotic scenes.
The deadline to submit applications for this event was prolonged for a seven days to accommodate more applicants, as some had experienced difficulties in the application procedure.
Military representative Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin said the stampede took place before the planned commencement time of 06:20 GMT.
Ghana's President John Mahama has gone to see the wounded in medical care.
Calm has been restored, and the recruitment exercise has since started.
