No Fewer Than 6 Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghanaian Armed Forces Enlistment Event
No fewer than six individuals have died during a crowd crush at a armed forces enlistment event held in a stadium in Ghana.
The midweek "devastating" event seems to have been triggered by "an unexpected surge of applicants who breached security protocols and stormed the gates," stated a release from Ghana's armed forces.
22 additional individuals were injured, including 5 who remain in serious state.
Thousands had gathered at El-Wak stadium, in the main city, the capital, with the hope of enlisting in the armed forces.
The country has a rate of joblessness among young people of approximately 32%, the most recent government statistics indicate, and such recruitment events normally draw large crowds and often lead to chaotic scenes.
The deadline to apply for this event was extended by a seven days to accommodate more applicants, as a number had experienced difficulties in the process.
Military representative Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the crush took place ahead of the event's scheduled start of 06:20 GMT.
The nation's leader President John Mahama has gone to see the injured in hospital.
Calm has been reestablished, and the enlistment process has since started.
