At Least 6 Perish in Stampede at Ghanaian Military Recruitment Drive
At least six individuals have died amid a stampede at a armed forces enlistment gathering held in a sports arena in the West African nation.
The Wednesday's "tragic" incident appeared to have been triggered by "an unexpected surge of candidates who breached security protocols and rushed into the entrances," stated a release from Ghana's armed forces.
Twenty-two additional individuals were hurt, including five who remain in serious state.
A large crowd had turned up at El-Wak stadium, in the main city, Accra, with the aspiration of joining the armed forces.
Ghana has a rate of joblessness among young people of about thirty-two percent, the most recent official data indicate, and such recruitment events normally attract large crowds and often result in disorderly situations.
The deadline to submit applications for this recruitment was extended by a seven days to accommodate additional candidates, as a number had experienced difficulties in the process.
Military representative Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin said the crush took place ahead of the event's scheduled start of 06:20 GMT.
The nation's leader President John Mahama has gone to see the wounded in medical care.
Calm has been reestablished, and the enlistment process has since started.
