No Fewer Than Six Perish in Crowd Crush at Ghanaian Military Recruitment Drive
At least six people have lost their lives amid a stampede at a armed forces enlistment gathering held in a sports arena in Ghana.
The midweek "tragic" incident appeared to have been triggered by "a sudden rush of candidates who breached security protocols and rushed into the gates," announced a statement from the nation's military.
22 additional individuals were injured, including 5 who remain in critical condition.
Thousands had gathered at the El-Wak sports venue, in the capital, the capital, with the hope of joining the military.
The country has a youth unemployment rate of about 32%, the most recent government statistics indicate, and such recruitment events typically draw massive gatherings and frequently result in chaotic scenes.
The deadline to apply for this event was extended by a week to accommodate additional candidates, as some had experienced challenges in the process.
Army spokesperson Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the crush occurred ahead of the event's scheduled start of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
Ghana's President John Mahama has visited the wounded in medical care.
Calm has been reestablished, and the enlistment process has now begun.
