At Least Six Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghana Armed Forces Enlistment Event
No fewer than six individuals have died during a stampede at a military recruitment gathering held in a stadium in Ghana.
The midweek "tragic" incident seems to have been caused by "a sudden rush of candidates who breached security protocols and rushed into the entrances," stated a release from the nation's military.
22 additional individuals were hurt, among them 5 who are in serious state.
A large crowd had turned up at the El-Wak sports venue, in the capital, Accra, with the aspiration of joining the armed forces.
The country has a rate of joblessness among young people of about thirty-two percent, the latest official data indicate, and such enlistment drives normally draw large crowds and often result in chaotic scenes.
The closing date to apply for this event was extended by a seven days to accommodate additional candidates, as some had experienced difficulties in the process.
Military representative Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin said the stampede occurred before the event's scheduled start of 06:20 GMT.
The nation's leader John Mahama has gone to see the wounded in medical care.
Order has been reestablished, and the recruitment exercise has since begun.
