At Least Six Lose Their Lives in Crowd Crush at Ghanaian Armed Forces Enlistment Event
No fewer than 6 individuals have lost their lives amid a crowd crush at a armed forces enlistment event held in a sports arena in Ghana.
The midweek "devastating" event appeared to have been triggered by "an unexpected surge of applicants who breached security protocols and rushed into the gates," announced a release from Ghana's armed forces.
22 additional individuals were injured, among them five who are in serious state.
A large crowd 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 show, and such enlistment drives typically draw massive gatherings and often result in disorderly situations.
The deadline to apply for this recruitment was extended by a week to allow for more applicants, as a number had experienced difficulties in the process.
Army spokesperson Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the stampede occurred ahead of the planned commencement time of 06:20 GMT.
The nation's leader President John Mahama has gone to see the wounded in hospital.
Calm has been restored, and the recruitment exercise has since begun.
