At Least Six Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghana Military Recruitment Event
No fewer than six individuals have lost their lives amid a stampede 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 "an unexpected surge of candidates who overcame security measures and rushed into the gates," announced a release from Ghana's armed forces.
Twenty-two additional individuals were injured, among them 5 who remain in serious state.
Thousands had turned up at El-Wak stadium, in the capital, the capital, with the hope of joining the military.
Ghana has a rate of joblessness among young people of about 32%, the latest official data indicate, and such recruitment events normally draw massive gatherings and frequently lead to disorderly situations.
The closing date to submit applications for this event was prolonged for a seven days to accommodate more applicants, as a number had experienced difficulties in the application procedure.
Military representative Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the stampede 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 hospital.
Calm has been reestablished, and the recruitment exercise has now started.
