At Least 6 Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghanaian Military Recruitment Event
At least six people have died amid a crowd crush at a military recruitment event held in a sports arena in the West African nation.
The Wednesday's "devastating" incident seems to have been triggered by "an unexpected surge of applicants who overcame security measures and rushed into the entrances," announced a release from Ghana's armed forces.
Twenty-two others were hurt, including five who remain in serious state.
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 approximately thirty-two percent, the latest government statistics show, and such enlistment drives normally attract massive gatherings and often lead to disorderly situations.
The closing date to apply for this recruitment was prolonged for a seven days to allow for additional candidates, as a number had faced challenges in the process.
Army spokesperson Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin said the stampede occurred ahead of the planned commencement time of 06:20 GMT.
The nation's leader President John Mahama has gone to see the wounded in hospital.
Order has been reestablished, and the recruitment exercise has since started.
