At Least 6 Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghanaian Military Recruitment Drive
No fewer than six people have died during a stampede at a military recruitment gathering held in a sports arena in Ghana.
The midweek "tragic" event appeared to have been caused by "an unexpected surge of applicants who breached security protocols and stormed the entrances," announced a release from Ghana's armed forces.
22 additional individuals were injured, including 5 who remain in critical condition.
A large crowd had turned up at El-Wak stadium, in the main city, the capital, with the hope of enlisting in the armed forces.
The country has a rate of joblessness among young people of about 32%, the latest government statistics show, and such enlistment drives normally attract large crowds and frequently lead to chaotic scenes.
The closing date to apply for this recruitment was prolonged for a seven days to accommodate more applicants, as some had faced difficulties in the process.
Army spokesperson Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the stampede occurred before the event's scheduled start of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
The nation's leader John Mahama has visited the injured in medical care.
Order has been reestablished, and the recruitment exercise has since begun.
