No Fewer Than Six Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghanaian Armed Forces Enlistment Drive
No fewer than six individuals have lost their lives during a crowd crush at a military recruitment gathering held in a stadium in the West African nation.
The Wednesday's "devastating" incident appeared to have been triggered by "a sudden rush of candidates who breached security protocols and rushed into the entrances," announced a release from the nation's military.
22 others were hurt, among them five who remain in critical condition.
Thousands had turned up at El-Wak stadium, in the main city, the capital, with the hope of joining the military.
Ghana has a rate of joblessness among young people of about thirty-two percent, the latest official data indicate, and such enlistment drives normally draw large crowds and frequently result in chaotic scenes.
The closing date to apply for this recruitment was extended by a seven days to allow for more applicants, as some had experienced challenges in the application procedure.
Military representative Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin said the crush occurred ahead of the planned commencement time of 06:20 GMT.
Ghana's President John Mahama has gone to see the wounded in medical care.
Calm has been restored, and the recruitment exercise has now begun.