At Least 6 Lose Their Lives in Crowd Crush at Ghanaian Military Recruitment Drive
At least six individuals have lost their lives amid a stampede at a armed forces enlistment event held in a stadium in the West African nation.
The midweek "tragic" incident seems to have been triggered by "an unexpected surge of candidates who breached security protocols and stormed the entrances," stated a statement from the nation's military.
Twenty-two additional individuals were injured, including five who remain in critical condition.
A large crowd had gathered at the El-Wak sports venue, in the main city, Accra, with the hope of joining the military.
The country has a youth unemployment rate of approximately 32%, the latest official data indicate, and such recruitment events normally attract large crowds and frequently lead to disorderly situations.
The closing date to submit applications for this event was extended by a week to accommodate more applicants, as a number had experienced challenges in the process.
Military representative Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin said the stampede occurred ahead of the planned commencement time of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
The nation's leader John Mahama has gone to see the injured in medical care.
Calm has been reestablished, and the enlistment process has now begun.
