At Least Six Perish in Stampede at Ghanaian Armed Forces Enlistment Drive
At least six people have died amid a stampede at a military recruitment gathering held in a stadium in the West African nation.
The Wednesday's "devastating" event appeared to have been caused by "an unexpected surge of applicants who overcame security measures and stormed the gates," announced a statement from the nation's military.
22 others were injured, including 5 who are in critical condition.
A large crowd had turned up at El-Wak stadium, in the capital, the capital, with the hope of joining the armed forces.
The country has a rate of joblessness among young people of approximately thirty-two percent, the latest official data indicate, and such recruitment events typically draw large crowds and often lead to chaotic scenes.
The closing date to submit applications for this recruitment was extended by a week to allow for more applicants, as a number had experienced challenges in the process.
Army spokesperson Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin said the stampede occurred ahead of the planned commencement time of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
The nation's leader President John Mahama has visited the injured in hospital.
Order has been reestablished, and the recruitment exercise has since started.
