No Fewer Than 6 Perish in Stampede at Ghana Armed Forces Enlistment Event
At least 6 people have died amid a stampede at a armed forces enlistment event held in a sports arena in the West African nation.
The Wednesday's "devastating" incident seems to have been caused by "an unexpected surge of applicants who overcame security measures and stormed the gates," stated a statement from the nation's military.
Twenty-two others were injured, including 5 who are in serious state.
Thousands had turned up at El-Wak stadium, in the main city, the capital, with the hope of joining the armed forces.
Ghana has a rate of joblessness among young people of about thirty-two percent, the most recent official data indicate, and such enlistment drives typically attract massive gatherings and frequently result in chaotic scenes.
The deadline to apply for this recruitment was extended by a week to accommodate more applicants, as some had experienced difficulties in the application procedure.
Army spokesperson Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the stampede took place before the planned commencement time of 06:20 GMT.
Ghana's President John Mahama has visited the wounded in medical care.
Calm has been restored, and the recruitment exercise has now started.
