No Fewer Than 6 Perish in Stampede at Ghanaian Military Recruitment Event
At least 6 individuals have died during a stampede at a armed forces enlistment gathering held in a sports arena in the West African nation.
The Wednesday's "tragic" event appeared to have been triggered by "an unexpected surge of candidates who overcame security measures and stormed the gates," stated a release from the nation's military.
22 others were hurt, among them five who are in serious state.
Thousands had gathered at El-Wak stadium, in the capital, the capital, with the aspiration of enlisting in the armed forces.
The country has a rate of joblessness among young people of approximately 32%, the latest government statistics show, and such recruitment events typically draw massive gatherings and frequently lead to disorderly situations.
The deadline to apply for this recruitment was extended by a week to allow for more applicants, as a number had faced challenges in the process.
Army spokesperson Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin said the stampede took place before the event's scheduled start of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
The nation's leader President John Mahama has visited the wounded in medical care.
Order has been reestablished, and the recruitment exercise has now begun.
