At Least Six Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghanaian Armed Forces Enlistment Event
At least 6 people have lost their lives amid a stampede at a military recruitment event held in a stadium in the West African nation.
The midweek "devastating" incident seems to have been triggered by "a sudden rush of applicants who overcame security measures and stormed the gates," announced a release from the nation's military.
Twenty-two others were hurt, including 5 who are 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 approximately thirty-two percent, the latest official data show, and such enlistment drives normally draw massive gatherings and often lead to chaotic scenes.
The closing date to apply for this event was extended by a seven days to allow for more applicants, as some had faced difficulties in the process.
Army spokesperson Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin said the stampede occurred ahead of the planned commencement time of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
The nation's leader John Mahama has visited the injured in medical care.
Calm has been restored, and the enlistment process has since begun.
