No Fewer Than 6 Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghanaian Armed Forces Enlistment Event
At least 6 people have died during a stampede at a armed forces enlistment gathering held in a stadium in the West African nation.
The midweek "tragic" event appeared to have been caused by "an unexpected surge of applicants who overcame security measures and stormed the entrances," announced a statement from the nation's military.
22 additional individuals were hurt, including 5 who remain in serious state.
A large crowd had gathered at the El-Wak sports venue, in the capital, Accra, with the hope of joining the armed forces.
The country has a youth unemployment rate of about thirty-two percent, the latest government statistics indicate, and such enlistment drives normally draw large crowds and often lead to disorderly situations.
The closing date to submit applications for this event was extended by a seven days to allow for additional candidates, as some had faced difficulties in the process.
Military representative Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the crush occurred before the event's scheduled start of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
The nation's leader John Mahama has visited the wounded in hospital.
Order has been restored, and the recruitment exercise has now started.
