No Fewer Than Six Lose Their Lives in Crowd Crush at Ghana Armed Forces Enlistment Event
At least six people have lost their lives amid a stampede at a armed forces enlistment gathering held in a sports arena in Ghana.
The midweek "tragic" incident seems to have been caused by "a sudden rush of applicants who overcame security measures and stormed the entrances," announced a release from Ghana's armed forces.
22 additional individuals were hurt, including 5 who are in critical condition.
Thousands had gathered at El-Wak stadium, in the main city, Accra, with the hope of joining the military.
Ghana has a rate of joblessness among young people of about thirty-two percent, the latest official data show, and such recruitment events typically attract large crowds and frequently result in chaotic scenes.
The closing date to submit applications for this event was extended by a week to allow for more applicants, as some had experienced difficulties in the application procedure.
Army spokesperson Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin said the stampede took place ahead of the event's scheduled start of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
Ghana's President President John Mahama has gone to see the wounded in hospital.
Calm has been reestablished, and the recruitment exercise has since started.
