No Fewer Than 6 Perish in Stampede at Ghanaian Armed Forces Enlistment Drive
No fewer than six people have died during a crowd crush at a armed forces enlistment event held in a sports arena in Ghana.
The Wednesday's "devastating" incident appeared to have been caused by "a sudden rush of applicants who overcame security measures and rushed into the entrances," stated a statement from Ghana's armed forces.
22 additional individuals were hurt, among them five who remain in serious state.
A large crowd had turned up at El-Wak stadium, in the capital, Accra, with the aspiration of joining the military.
Ghana has a youth unemployment rate of approximately 32%, the most recent official data indicate, and such recruitment events typically draw massive gatherings and often result in chaotic scenes.
The closing date to submit applications for this recruitment was extended by a week to allow for more applicants, as a number had faced difficulties in the application procedure.
Military representative Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the stampede took place ahead of the planned commencement time of 06:20 GMT.
The nation's leader President John Mahama has visited the injured in hospital.
Order has been restored, and the enlistment process has now begun.
