At Least 6 Perish in Stampede at Ghanaian Military Recruitment Drive
At least 6 people have lost their lives amid a stampede at a military recruitment gathering held in a stadium in the West African nation.
The Wednesday's "devastating" incident 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 additional individuals were injured, including five who remain in critical condition.
A large crowd had gathered at the El-Wak sports venue, in the main city, Accra, with the aspiration of enlisting in the armed forces.
Ghana has a youth unemployment rate of approximately thirty-two percent, the latest official data show, and such recruitment events typically attract large crowds and frequently lead to disorderly situations.
The closing date to apply for this event was prolonged for a seven days to accommodate more applicants, as some had faced difficulties in the process.
Army spokesperson Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin said the crush occurred ahead of the event's scheduled start of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
The nation's leader John Mahama has visited the injured in hospital.
Order has been restored, and the enlistment process has now begun.
