At Least Six Perish in Stampede at Ghana Military Recruitment Drive
No fewer than 6 individuals have died during a stampede at a armed forces enlistment gathering held in a stadium in the West African nation.
The Wednesday's "tragic" event appeared to have been caused by "an unexpected surge of candidates who breached security protocols and stormed the entrances," announced a statement from Ghana's armed forces.
Twenty-two others were hurt, among them five who remain in critical condition.
A large crowd had gathered at El-Wak stadium, in the capital, Accra, with the aspiration of joining the military.
The country has a rate of joblessness among young people of about thirty-two percent, the latest official data show, and such recruitment events typically draw massive gatherings and frequently lead to chaotic scenes.
The closing date to apply for this recruitment was prolonged for a seven days to accommodate additional candidates, as some had faced difficulties in the application procedure.
Army spokesperson Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the stampede occurred before the event's scheduled start of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
Ghana's President President John Mahama has visited the wounded in hospital.
Calm has been restored, and the recruitment exercise has now started.