No Fewer Than Six Perish in Stampede at Ghanaian Armed Forces Enlistment Drive
At least 6 people have died during a stampede at a military recruitment event held in a stadium in Ghana.
The midweek "tragic" event appeared to have been triggered by "an unexpected surge of candidates who overcame security measures and stormed the gates," announced a release from the nation's military.
Twenty-two others were hurt, including five who are in serious state.
A large crowd had gathered at El-Wak stadium, in the capital, Accra, with the aspiration of enlisting in the armed forces.
The country has a rate of joblessness among young people of about 32%, the most recent official data show, and such recruitment events typically attract large crowds and frequently lead to chaotic scenes.
The closing date to apply for this event was prolonged for a seven days to allow for additional candidates, as a number had faced challenges in the application procedure.
Military representative Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin said the stampede took place before the event's scheduled start 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 since begun.
