No Fewer Than 6 Perish in Crowd Crush at Ghanaian Military Recruitment Event
At least six people have died amid a crowd crush at a armed forces enlistment event held in a sports arena in Ghana.
The midweek "tragic" incident appeared to have been triggered by "an unexpected surge of candidates who overcame security measures and rushed into the gates," stated a release from the nation's military.
22 others were hurt, among them 5 who remain in critical condition.
A large crowd had turned up at El-Wak stadium, in the main city, the capital, with the aspiration of enlisting in the armed forces.
Ghana has a rate of joblessness among young people of approximately thirty-two percent, the most recent government statistics indicate, and such enlistment drives normally attract massive gatherings and often result in disorderly situations.
The closing date to apply for this event was prolonged for a seven days to accommodate more applicants, as some had faced challenges in the application procedure.
Military representative Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin said the stampede took place before the event's scheduled start of 06:20 GMT.
The nation's leader John Mahama has gone to see the wounded in hospital.
Calm has been restored, and the recruitment exercise has since begun.
