At Least Six Perish in Stampede at Ghanaian Armed Forces Enlistment Event
At least six individuals have died amid a stampede at a military recruitment gathering held in a stadium in the West African nation.
The midweek "devastating" event seems to have been triggered by "a sudden rush of candidates who overcame security measures and rushed into the gates," announced a statement from Ghana's armed forces.
Twenty-two additional individuals were injured, including 5 who remain in serious state.
A large crowd had turned up at El-Wak stadium, in the main city, the capital, with the aspiration of joining the military.
Ghana has a youth unemployment rate of about thirty-two percent, the most recent official data indicate, and such recruitment events normally draw massive gatherings and frequently lead to chaotic scenes.
The closing date to submit applications for this recruitment was prolonged for a week to accommodate more applicants, as a number had experienced challenges in the application procedure.
Army spokesperson Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin said the stampede took place ahead of the planned commencement time of 06:20 GMT.
The nation's leader President John Mahama has gone to see the wounded in medical care.
Order has been reestablished, and the enlistment process has since started.
