No Fewer Than 6 Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghana Military Recruitment Event
At least 6 individuals have died during a crowd crush at a armed forces enlistment gathering held in a sports arena in the West African nation.
The Wednesday's "tragic" incident seems to have been triggered by "a sudden rush of applicants who overcame security measures and stormed the entrances," announced a release from the nation's military.
22 others were hurt, including 5 who are in critical condition.
Thousands had gathered at the El-Wak sports venue, in the main city, the capital, with the aspiration of enlisting in the military.
Ghana has a rate of joblessness among young people of approximately thirty-two percent, the latest government statistics indicate, and such enlistment drives typically attract large crowds and often lead to chaotic scenes.
The deadline to apply for this event was prolonged for a seven days to accommodate more applicants, as some had faced difficulties in the process.
Military representative Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin said the crush occurred ahead of the planned commencement time of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
The nation's leader President John Mahama has gone to see the wounded in medical care.
Order has been restored, and the recruitment exercise has now begun.
