No Fewer Than Six Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghana Military Recruitment Drive
No fewer than six people have died amid a stampede at a military recruitment gathering held in a sports arena in the West African nation.
The Wednesday's "tragic" event seems to have been caused by "a sudden rush of candidates who breached security protocols and stormed the entrances," announced a statement from the nation's military.
Twenty-two others were hurt, including five who remain in critical condition.
A large crowd had gathered at the El-Wak sports venue, in the capital, Accra, with the hope of enlisting in the armed forces.
The country has a youth unemployment rate of approximately thirty-two percent, the most recent government statistics show, and such enlistment drives normally attract large crowds and often result in chaotic scenes.
The deadline to submit applications for this event was extended by a week to accommodate additional candidates, as a number had experienced difficulties in the process.
Army spokesperson Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the stampede took place ahead of the event's scheduled start of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
The nation's leader President John Mahama has visited the injured in medical care.
Calm has been restored, and the enlistment process has now begun.
