At Least Six Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghanaian Military Recruitment Drive
No fewer than six people have lost their lives during a stampede at a armed forces enlistment event held in a stadium in the West African nation.
The midweek "devastating" incident seems to have been triggered by "an unexpected surge of candidates who overcame security measures and rushed into the gates," announced a statement from the nation's military.
Twenty-two additional individuals were hurt, among them five who are in critical condition.
Thousands had turned up at El-Wak stadium, in the main city, the capital, with the aspiration of joining the military.
Ghana has a youth unemployment rate of about 32%, the most recent government statistics show, and such enlistment drives normally draw massive gatherings and often lead to disorderly situations.
The closing date to submit applications for this recruitment was extended by a week to accommodate additional candidates, as a number had experienced challenges in the application procedure.
Military representative Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin said the crush occurred ahead of the planned commencement time of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
The nation's leader President John Mahama has gone to see the wounded in medical care.
Order has been reestablished, and the enlistment process has now started.
