No Fewer Than 6 Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghana Armed Forces Enlistment Event
No fewer than six individuals have lost their lives amid a crowd crush at a armed forces enlistment event held in a stadium in Ghana.
The Wednesday's "tragic" event seems to have been triggered by "a sudden rush of applicants who overcame security measures and stormed the gates," stated a release from the nation's military.
Twenty-two additional individuals were injured, including 5 who remain in serious state.
Thousands had gathered at the El-Wak sports venue, in the capital, the capital, with the hope of enlisting in the armed forces.
Ghana has a rate of joblessness among young people of approximately 32%, the most recent government statistics indicate, and such enlistment drives normally draw massive gatherings and often result in disorderly situations.
The closing date to apply for this event was prolonged for a seven days to allow for more applicants, as a number had faced challenges in the application procedure.
Army spokesperson Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin said the stampede took place ahead of the event's scheduled start of 06:20 GMT.
The nation's leader President John Mahama has visited the wounded in hospital.
Calm has been restored, and the enlistment process has now started.
