At Least 6 Perish in Stampede at Ghanaian Armed Forces Enlistment Event
At least six people have lost their lives during a stampede at a armed forces enlistment event held in a stadium in Ghana.
The midweek "devastating" incident appeared to have been triggered by "an unexpected surge of applicants who overcame security measures and stormed the entrances," stated a statement from the nation's military.
Twenty-two others were hurt, among them five who are in critical condition.
Thousands had gathered at the El-Wak sports venue, in the main city, the capital, with the hope of enlisting in the military.
The country has a youth unemployment rate of approximately 32%, the most recent official data indicate, and such recruitment events typically draw large crowds and frequently lead to disorderly situations.
The deadline to submit applications for this recruitment was extended by a seven days to allow for more applicants, as some had experienced difficulties in the process.
Military representative Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin said the crush 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 restored, and the recruitment exercise has now begun.
