At Least Six Lose Their Lives in Crowd Crush at Ghanaian Military Recruitment Event
At least six individuals have lost their lives during a crowd crush at a armed forces enlistment gathering held in a stadium in the West African nation.
The midweek "tragic" incident seems to have been triggered by "a sudden rush of applicants who overcame security measures and stormed the entrances," announced a release from Ghana's armed forces.
22 others were hurt, including five who are in serious state.
Thousands had gathered at El-Wak stadium, in the capital, the capital, with the hope of joining the military.
Ghana has a rate of joblessness among young people of about thirty-two percent, the latest government statistics show, and such enlistment drives normally draw large crowds and frequently lead to disorderly situations.
The closing date to submit applications for this recruitment was extended by a seven days to allow for more applicants, as a number had faced challenges in the process.
Military representative Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin said the stampede occurred before the planned commencement time of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
Ghana's President President John Mahama has gone to see the wounded in medical care.
Order has been restored, and the enlistment process has since started.
