No Fewer Than 6 Perish in Stampede at Ghanaian Military Recruitment Event
At least 6 individuals have lost their lives amid a stampede at a military recruitment gathering held in a stadium in the West African nation.
The midweek "devastating" event seems to have been caused by "an unexpected surge of applicants who breached security protocols and stormed the entrances," stated a release from the nation's military.
22 additional individuals were hurt, including five who remain in critical condition.
A large crowd had gathered at El-Wak stadium, in the main city, the capital, with the aspiration of joining the armed forces.
Ghana has a youth unemployment rate of about 32%, the latest government statistics indicate, and such enlistment drives typically draw massive gatherings and often result in chaotic scenes.
The deadline to submit applications for this recruitment was prolonged for a seven days to accommodate more applicants, as some had experienced difficulties in the application procedure.
Military representative Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin said the crush occurred before the planned commencement time 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 enlistment process has since begun.