At Least 6 Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghana Armed Forces Enlistment Drive
No fewer than 6 people have lost their lives amid a crowd crush at a armed forces enlistment gathering held in a sports arena in the West African nation.
The midweek "tragic" incident seems to have been caused by "an unexpected surge of candidates who overcame security measures and rushed into the gates," stated a release from the nation's military.
Twenty-two others were hurt, among them 5 who remain 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.
The country has a rate of joblessness among young people of approximately thirty-two percent, the latest government statistics indicate, and such enlistment drives typically attract massive gatherings and often result in chaotic scenes.
The closing date to apply for this recruitment was prolonged for a week to allow for additional candidates, as some had faced challenges in the application procedure.
Military representative Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin said the stampede occurred before the event's scheduled start of 06:20 GMT.
The nation's leader President John Mahama has visited the wounded in hospital.
Order has been reestablished, and the enlistment process has since started.
