No Fewer Than 6 Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghanaian Armed Forces Enlistment Event
At least six people have died amid a stampede at a military recruitment event held in a sports arena in Ghana.
The midweek "devastating" event seems to have been triggered by "an unexpected surge of candidates who overcame security measures and rushed into the gates," stated a release from Ghana's armed forces.
Twenty-two additional individuals were injured, among them 5 who are in serious state.
Thousands had gathered at the El-Wak sports venue, in the main city, the capital, with the hope of enlisting in the armed forces.
Ghana has a youth unemployment rate of about 32%, the latest official data indicate, and such enlistment drives typically attract massive gatherings and frequently result in chaotic scenes.
The deadline to apply for this recruitment was extended by a seven days to accommodate additional candidates, as a number had faced challenges in the application procedure.
Military representative Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin said the crush took place before the event's scheduled start of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
Ghana's President John Mahama has gone to see the wounded in medical care.
Order has been reestablished, and the enlistment process has now started.
