No Fewer Than Six Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghanaian Armed Forces Enlistment Event
No fewer than 6 individuals have died amid a crowd crush at a armed forces enlistment gathering held in a sports arena in Ghana.
The Wednesday's "devastating" event appeared to have been triggered by "an unexpected surge of candidates who breached security protocols and stormed the entrances," stated a release from Ghana's armed forces.
22 additional individuals were injured, among them 5 who are in critical condition.
A large crowd had gathered at the El-Wak sports venue, in the main city, Accra, with the aspiration of joining the armed forces.
The country has a rate of joblessness among young people of approximately thirty-two percent, the latest government statistics indicate, and such recruitment events normally attract large crowds and often lead to disorderly situations.
The deadline to apply for this recruitment was prolonged for a seven days to allow for additional candidates, as some had experienced difficulties in the application procedure.
Military representative Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the crush took place ahead of the planned commencement time of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
The nation's leader President John Mahama has gone to see the wounded in hospital.
Calm has been reestablished, and the recruitment exercise has now started.
