At Least Six Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghanaian Armed Forces Enlistment Event
No fewer than six people have lost their lives during a stampede at a armed forces enlistment event held in a stadium in the West African nation.
The Wednesday's "devastating" incident seems to have been triggered by "a sudden rush of candidates who breached security protocols and rushed into the gates," announced a statement from Ghana's armed forces.
Twenty-two additional individuals were injured, among them 5 who are in serious state.
Thousands had gathered at El-Wak stadium, in the main city, the capital, with the aspiration of joining the armed forces.
Ghana has a youth unemployment rate of about 32%, the latest government statistics indicate, and such recruitment events typically draw massive gatherings and frequently lead to chaotic scenes.
The deadline to apply for this recruitment was prolonged for a week to accommodate additional candidates, as some had experienced challenges in the application procedure.
Army spokesperson Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the stampede took place before the planned commencement time of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
Ghana's President John Mahama has gone to see the wounded in hospital.
Calm has been restored, and the recruitment exercise has since begun.
