No Fewer Than Six Perish in Stampede at Ghana Military Recruitment Event
No fewer than six people have lost their lives amid a stampede at a military recruitment gathering held in a stadium in the West African nation.
The midweek "tragic" event seems to have been caused by "a sudden rush of applicants who breached security protocols and stormed the entrances," stated a release from the nation's military.
22 others were hurt, including five who are in critical condition.
A large crowd had gathered at El-Wak stadium, in the main city, Accra, with the hope of enlisting in the military.
The country has a rate of joblessness among young people of approximately thirty-two percent, the most recent government statistics indicate, and such recruitment events normally attract massive gatherings and frequently lead to disorderly situations.
The deadline to apply for this event was extended by a seven days to allow for more applicants, as some had faced challenges in the application procedure.
Army spokesperson Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the stampede took place before the planned commencement time of 06:20 GMT.
The nation's leader John Mahama has visited the wounded in hospital.
Order has been restored, and the recruitment exercise has now started.