No Fewer Than 6 Perish in Crowd Crush at Ghana Military Recruitment Event
At least six individuals have died during a stampede at a military recruitment event held in a sports arena in Ghana.
The midweek "devastating" incident appeared to have been caused by "an unexpected surge of applicants who overcame security measures and stormed the gates," announced a release from the nation's military.
22 others were injured, among them 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 enlisting in the military.
Ghana has a rate of joblessness among young people of about thirty-two percent, the most recent government statistics show, and such recruitment events typically attract massive gatherings and frequently result in chaotic scenes.
The closing date to apply for this event was prolonged for a week to accommodate additional candidates, as some had faced difficulties in the process.
Military representative Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin said 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.
Calm has been restored, and the recruitment exercise has now begun.
