No Fewer Than 6 Perish in Stampede at Ghana Armed Forces Enlistment Drive
No fewer than 6 individuals have lost their lives during a crowd crush at a military recruitment event held in a stadium in Ghana.
The midweek "tragic" incident seems to have been caused by "a sudden rush of candidates who breached security protocols and rushed into the gates," stated a release from Ghana's armed forces.
Twenty-two additional individuals were hurt, including 5 who are in critical condition.
Thousands had gathered at El-Wak stadium, in the capital, Accra, with the aspiration of enlisting in the armed forces.
Ghana has a youth unemployment rate of approximately 32%, the latest official data indicate, and such recruitment events normally draw large crowds and often result in disorderly situations.
The deadline to apply for this event was prolonged for a seven days to accommodate additional candidates, as some had faced difficulties in the process.
Army spokesperson Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the stampede took place before the planned commencement time of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
Ghana's President John Mahama has gone to see the wounded in medical care.
Calm has been restored, and the recruitment exercise has since begun.
