No Fewer Than 6 Lose Their Lives in Crowd Crush at Ghanaian Military Recruitment Drive
At least 6 people have lost their lives amid a stampede at a military recruitment gathering held in a stadium in Ghana.
The Wednesday's "tragic" incident appeared to have been triggered by "a sudden rush of candidates who overcame security measures and stormed the entrances," stated a statement from Ghana's armed forces.
22 others were injured, including 5 who remain in critical condition.
A large crowd had turned up at the El-Wak sports venue, in the main city, Accra, with the hope of joining the armed forces.
Ghana has a youth unemployment rate of about 32%, the most recent official data show, and such enlistment drives typically draw large crowds and frequently lead to disorderly situations.
The closing date to submit applications for this event was extended by a week to accommodate additional candidates, as some had experienced challenges in the process.
Military representative Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the crush 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 hospital.
Order has been restored, and the enlistment process has since started.
