At Least 6 Perish in Crowd Crush at Ghana Armed Forces Enlistment Event
No fewer than six people have died amid a crowd crush at a military recruitment event held in a sports arena in the West African nation.
The Wednesday's "tragic" incident appeared to have been caused by "a sudden rush of candidates who breached security protocols and stormed the gates," announced a release from Ghana's armed forces.
22 additional individuals were hurt, among them five who remain in serious state.
Thousands had turned up at the El-Wak sports venue, in the main city, the capital, with the hope of joining the armed forces.
The country has a youth unemployment rate of about 32%, the most recent government statistics indicate, and such enlistment drives typically attract large crowds and frequently result in disorderly situations.
The closing date to submit applications for this event was extended by a seven days to allow for additional candidates, as some had faced challenges in the process.
Army spokesperson Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the stampede took place before the planned commencement time of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
The nation's leader John Mahama has gone to see the wounded in hospital.
Calm has been reestablished, and the recruitment exercise has since begun.
