No Fewer Than Six Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghana Military Recruitment Drive
No fewer than 6 people have lost their lives amid a stampede at a armed forces enlistment gathering held in a stadium in the West African nation.
The Wednesday's "devastating" event appeared to have been caused by "a sudden rush of candidates who overcame security measures and stormed the entrances," announced a release from Ghana's armed forces.
Twenty-two others were hurt, including 5 who remain in critical condition.
A large crowd had turned up at El-Wak stadium, in the main city, the capital, with the aspiration of joining the armed forces.
The country has a youth unemployment rate of approximately 32%, the latest official data indicate, and such enlistment drives normally draw large crowds and frequently lead to disorderly situations.
The deadline to submit applications for this recruitment was prolonged for a seven days to allow for additional candidates, as a number had faced challenges in the process.
Military representative Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the stampede occurred ahead of the event's scheduled start of 06:20 GMT.
Ghana's President John Mahama has visited the wounded in medical care.
Order has been restored, and the enlistment process has since started.
