No Fewer Than Six Perish in Stampede at Ghana Armed Forces Enlistment Event
No fewer than six individuals have lost their lives during a stampede at a armed forces enlistment gathering held in a sports arena in Ghana.
The Wednesday's "tragic" event seems to have been triggered by "an unexpected surge of applicants who breached security protocols and stormed the entrances," announced a release from Ghana's armed forces.
22 others were hurt, including 5 who are in serious state.
A large crowd had turned up at El-Wak stadium, in the capital, the capital, with the hope of enlisting in the armed forces.
The country has a rate of joblessness among young people of about 32%, the latest government statistics indicate, and such enlistment drives typically attract large crowds and often lead to chaotic scenes.
The deadline to submit applications for this event was extended by a seven days to allow for more applicants, as some had faced challenges in the process.
Military representative Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the crush occurred before the planned commencement time of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
The nation's leader President John Mahama has visited the injured in hospital.
Order has been restored, and the recruitment exercise has since started.
