At Least 6 Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghana Military Recruitment Drive
No fewer than 6 people have lost their lives during a stampede at a military recruitment gathering held in a sports arena in the West African nation.
The Wednesday's "tragic" incident appeared to have been triggered by "a sudden rush of candidates who overcame security measures and stormed the gates," stated a release from Ghana's armed forces.
22 others were hurt, among them 5 who are in critical condition.
A large crowd had gathered at the El-Wak sports venue, in the main city, the capital, with the hope of enlisting in the military.
The country has a youth unemployment rate of approximately thirty-two percent, the most recent official data show, and such recruitment events typically attract large crowds and frequently lead to disorderly situations.
The closing date to apply for this recruitment was extended by a seven days to accommodate additional candidates, as a number had experienced challenges in the process.
Military representative Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin said the stampede occurred ahead of the event's scheduled start of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
The nation's leader John Mahama has visited the injured in hospital.
Calm has been restored, and the recruitment exercise has now begun.
