No Fewer Than Six Perish in Stampede at Ghana Military Recruitment Event
At least 6 individuals have died amid a crowd crush at a military recruitment gathering held in a stadium in the West African nation.
The midweek "tragic" incident appeared to have been caused by "an unexpected surge of applicants who breached security protocols and rushed into the entrances," stated a release from the nation's military.
22 others were hurt, including five who are in serious state.
A large crowd had gathered at the El-Wak sports venue, in the main city, Accra, with the aspiration of joining the military.
The country has a youth unemployment rate of approximately thirty-two percent, the latest official data indicate, and such enlistment drives normally draw large crowds and frequently lead to chaotic scenes.
The deadline to apply for this event was extended by a week to allow for more applicants, as a number had faced challenges in the process.
Military representative Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin said the crush occurred ahead of the planned commencement time of 06:20 GMT.
The nation's leader President John Mahama has visited the injured in medical care.
Calm has been reestablished, and the recruitment exercise has now started.
