At Least 6 Perish in Stampede at Ghana Military Recruitment Drive
No fewer than six individuals have died amid a crowd crush at a armed forces enlistment event held in a stadium in Ghana.
The Wednesday's "devastating" incident seems to have been caused by "an unexpected surge of candidates who breached security protocols and rushed into the entrances," stated a statement from the nation's military.
Twenty-two others were injured, among them 5 who are in critical condition.
Thousands had gathered at the El-Wak sports venue, in the main city, Accra, with the aspiration of joining the armed forces.
Ghana has a rate of joblessness among young people of approximately thirty-two percent, the most recent official data indicate, and such enlistment drives typically attract massive gatherings and frequently result in chaotic scenes.
The deadline to apply for this event was extended by a seven days to accommodate more applicants, as a number had faced challenges in the application procedure.
Army spokesperson Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin said the stampede took place ahead of the event's scheduled start of 06:20 GMT.
Ghana's President President John Mahama has visited the wounded in medical care.
Calm has been reestablished, and the recruitment exercise has since begun.