At Least Six Perish in Stampede at Ghanaian Armed Forces Enlistment Drive
No fewer than 6 individuals have died amid a stampede at a armed forces enlistment gathering held in a stadium in the West African nation.
The Wednesday's "devastating" event appeared to have been caused by "a sudden rush of applicants who breached security protocols and rushed into the gates," stated a release from the nation's military.
22 others were injured, including 5 who are in serious state.
A large crowd had turned up at El-Wak stadium, in the capital, the capital, with the aspiration of enlisting in the armed forces.
Ghana has a youth unemployment rate of about thirty-two percent, the latest government statistics indicate, and such enlistment drives typically attract large crowds and often result in chaotic scenes.
The deadline to submit applications for this recruitment was extended by a seven days to allow for additional candidates, as a number had faced challenges in the application procedure.
Army spokesperson Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the crush occurred ahead of the planned commencement time of 06:20 GMT.
Ghana's President John Mahama has visited the injured in hospital.
Order has been reestablished, and the enlistment process has since begun.
