At Least 6 Perish in Stampede at Ghanaian Armed Forces Enlistment Event
No fewer than six people have died 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 "a sudden rush of candidates who breached security protocols and rushed into the gates," stated a release from the nation's military.
22 additional individuals were hurt, among them 5 who are in critical condition.
A large crowd had gathered at El-Wak stadium, in the capital, the capital, with the hope of enlisting in the military.
Ghana has a rate of joblessness among young people of about thirty-two percent, the latest government statistics show, and such recruitment events normally draw massive gatherings and frequently lead to disorderly situations.
The closing date to apply for this recruitment was prolonged for a seven days to allow for more applicants, as a number had experienced difficulties in the application procedure.
Army spokesperson Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the stampede took place before the event's scheduled start of 06:20 GMT.
Ghana's President John Mahama has gone to see the injured in hospital.
Order has been reestablished, and the recruitment exercise has since started.
