No Fewer Than Six Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghana Military Recruitment Drive
At least 6 people have died during a stampede at a military recruitment gathering held in a stadium in Ghana.
The midweek "tragic" incident appeared to have been caused by "a sudden rush of candidates who breached security protocols and rushed into the entrances," stated a release from Ghana's armed forces.
Twenty-two others were hurt, including five who remain in serious state.
Thousands had gathered at the El-Wak sports venue, in the main city, the capital, with the aspiration of enlisting in the military.
The country has a youth unemployment rate of approximately thirty-two percent, the most recent government statistics show, and such enlistment drives normally draw massive gatherings and frequently result in disorderly situations.
The closing date to submit applications for this event was extended by a week to allow for more applicants, as some had faced challenges in the application procedure.
Army spokesperson Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the crush occurred 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 injured in hospital.
Calm has been reestablished, and the enlistment process has since started.
