At Least 6 Perish in Stampede at Ghanaian Armed Forces Enlistment Drive
No fewer than six individuals have lost their lives during a stampede at a military recruitment gathering held in a sports arena in the West African nation.
The midweek "devastating" event appeared to have been caused by "an unexpected surge of applicants who overcame security measures and rushed into the entrances," stated a release from the nation's military.
22 additional individuals were hurt, among them 5 who remain in critical condition.
A large crowd had turned up at the El-Wak sports venue, in the main city, Accra, with the hope of joining the military.
The country has a youth unemployment rate of approximately thirty-two percent, the most recent government statistics show, and such enlistment drives typically draw large crowds and often result in chaotic scenes.
The closing date to submit applications for this event was extended by a week to allow for additional candidates, as some had experienced difficulties in the application procedure.
Army spokesperson Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin said the stampede occurred ahead of the planned commencement time of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
The nation's leader John Mahama has gone to see the injured in medical care.
Order has been reestablished, and the recruitment exercise has now started.
