No Fewer Than 6 Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghana Military Recruitment Drive
No fewer than 6 people have lost their lives amid a stampede at a military recruitment event held in a stadium 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 entrances," stated a statement from the nation's military.
22 others were injured, among them 5 who remain in critical condition.
A large crowd had turned up at El-Wak stadium, in the main city, Accra, with the hope of enlisting in the military.
Ghana has a youth unemployment rate of about thirty-two percent, the latest government statistics indicate, and such enlistment drives normally attract massive gatherings and frequently result in disorderly situations.
The deadline to submit applications for this recruitment was extended by a seven days to allow for additional candidates, as a number had faced challenges in the process.
Army spokesperson Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the stampede occurred before the event's scheduled start of 06:20 GMT.
The nation's leader John Mahama has gone to see the injured in hospital.
Calm has been reestablished, and the enlistment process has now started.
