No Fewer Than Six Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghanaian Military Recruitment Event
No fewer than 6 individuals have died amid a stampede at a armed forces enlistment gathering held in a stadium in the West African nation.
The midweek "devastating" event appeared to have been caused by "an unexpected surge of applicants who overcame security measures and rushed into the entrances," stated a statement from Ghana's armed forces.
Twenty-two additional individuals were injured, including 5 who are in critical condition.
Thousands had gathered at El-Wak stadium, in the main city, Accra, with the hope of enlisting in the armed forces.
Ghana has a rate of joblessness among young people of approximately thirty-two percent, the most recent official data indicate, and such enlistment drives typically attract large crowds and frequently lead to chaotic scenes.
The closing date to submit applications for this event was prolonged for a seven days to allow for more applicants, as some had experienced challenges in the process.
Military representative Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin said the stampede occurred ahead of the planned commencement time of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
The nation's leader John Mahama has visited the injured in medical care.
Calm has been reestablished, and the enlistment process has since begun.
