At Least 6 Perish in Stampede at Ghanaian Armed Forces Enlistment Drive
At least six individuals have died during a crowd crush at a armed forces enlistment gathering held in a stadium in the West African nation.
The Wednesday's "devastating" incident seems to have been triggered by "an unexpected surge of candidates 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 remain in critical condition.
A large crowd had gathered at El-Wak stadium, in the main city, the capital, with the hope of joining the armed forces.
The country has a youth unemployment rate of about 32%, the most recent government statistics indicate, and such enlistment drives typically attract massive gatherings and often lead to disorderly situations.
The deadline to submit applications for this recruitment was prolonged for a week to accommodate more applicants, as a number had faced difficulties in the process.
Army spokesperson Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin said the crush took place ahead of the event's scheduled start of 06:20 GMT.
Ghana's President President John Mahama has gone to see the wounded in hospital.
Calm has been reestablished, and the recruitment exercise has now started.
