At Least 6 Perish in Crowd Crush at Ghana Armed Forces Enlistment Event
No fewer than six individuals have died during a crowd crush at a military recruitment event held in a stadium in the West African nation.
The midweek "devastating" incident appeared to have been triggered by "a sudden rush of candidates who overcame security measures and stormed the gates," stated a release from Ghana's armed forces.
Twenty-two others were injured, including five who remain in serious state.
Thousands had gathered at the El-Wak sports venue, in the capital, Accra, with the aspiration of enlisting in the military.
The country has a rate of joblessness among young people of approximately 32%, the latest official data indicate, and such recruitment events normally draw massive gatherings and often result in disorderly situations.
The deadline to submit applications for this event was extended by a week to allow for additional candidates, as a number had experienced difficulties in the process.
Army spokesperson Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin said the stampede occurred before the event's scheduled start of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
Ghana's President President John Mahama has visited the wounded in hospital.
Calm has been reestablished, and the enlistment process has since begun.
