No Fewer Than Six Perish in Stampede at Ghana Military Recruitment Event
At least six people have died during a crowd crush at a armed forces enlistment event held in a stadium in the West African nation.
The midweek "devastating" event seems to have been caused by "an unexpected surge of applicants who breached security protocols and stormed the entrances," stated a statement from the nation's military.
Twenty-two others were hurt, including 5 who are in critical condition.
Thousands had turned up at El-Wak stadium, in the main city, Accra, with the aspiration of joining the military.
Ghana has a rate of joblessness among young people of approximately thirty-two percent, the most recent government statistics indicate, and such enlistment drives normally draw large crowds and often lead to disorderly situations.
The deadline to submit applications for this recruitment was extended by a seven days to allow for more applicants, as a number had faced difficulties in the process.
Army spokesperson Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the crush occurred before the event's scheduled start of 06:20 GMT.
Ghana's President John Mahama has visited the wounded in hospital.
Calm has been reestablished, and the enlistment process has since begun.
