At Least 6 Lose Their Lives in Crowd Crush at Ghanaian Military Recruitment Event
No fewer than 6 individuals have lost their lives amid a stampede at a armed forces enlistment event held in a stadium in Ghana.
The Wednesday's "devastating" event appeared to have been triggered by "a sudden rush of applicants who breached security protocols and stormed the entrances," stated a statement from the nation's military.
22 others were injured, including 5 who remain in serious state.
Thousands had turned up at El-Wak stadium, in the main city, the capital, with the hope of joining the armed forces.
The country has a youth unemployment rate of approximately thirty-two percent, the latest government statistics show, and such enlistment drives normally draw massive gatherings and frequently lead to disorderly situations.
The closing date to apply for this recruitment was extended by a week to accommodate additional candidates, as some had faced difficulties in the process.
Army spokesperson Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the stampede took place before the planned commencement time of 06:20 GMT.
The nation's leader President John Mahama has visited the injured in medical care.
Order has been restored, and the recruitment exercise has since begun.
