No Fewer Than Six Lose Their Lives in Crowd Crush at Ghana Armed Forces Enlistment Drive
At least 6 individuals have died amid a crowd crush at a military recruitment event held in a stadium in the West African nation.
The Wednesday's "tragic" incident seems to have been triggered by "a sudden rush of candidates who overcame security measures and stormed the gates," announced a release from the nation's military.
22 additional individuals were hurt, among them five who remain in critical condition.
Thousands had turned up at El-Wak stadium, in the capital, Accra, with the hope of joining the military.
Ghana has a rate of joblessness among young people of about thirty-two percent, the most recent official data indicate, and such recruitment events typically attract massive gatherings and often result in chaotic scenes.
The deadline to submit applications for this event was prolonged for a seven days to allow for additional candidates, as a number had faced difficulties in the process.
Military representative Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin said the crush occurred ahead of the event's scheduled start of 06:20 GMT.
The nation's leader President John Mahama has gone to see the injured in hospital.
Calm has been restored, and the enlistment process has now begun.
