At Least Six Perish in Stampede at Ghana Armed Forces Enlistment Event
At least six individuals have died amid a stampede at a armed forces enlistment gathering held in a sports arena in Ghana.
The Wednesday's "devastating" event seems to have been triggered by "a sudden rush of candidates who overcame security measures and rushed into the entrances," stated a statement from the nation's military.
Twenty-two others were hurt, among them five who are in serious state.
A large crowd had turned up at the El-Wak sports venue, in the main city, the capital, with the hope of enlisting in the military.
The country has a rate of joblessness among young people of about 32%, the latest government statistics indicate, and such enlistment drives typically draw large crowds and frequently lead to disorderly situations.
The deadline to apply for this recruitment was prolonged for a seven days to allow for additional candidates, as some had faced difficulties in the process.
Army spokesperson Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin said the crush took place before the event's scheduled start of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
The nation's leader President John Mahama has gone to see the injured in medical care.
Calm has been restored, and the enlistment process has now begun.
