No Fewer Than Six Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghana Military Recruitment Drive
At least 6 people have died amid a stampede at a military recruitment gathering held in a sports arena in the West African nation.
The midweek "tragic" event appeared to have been triggered by "an unexpected surge of applicants who breached security protocols and rushed into the entrances," stated a release from the nation's military.
Twenty-two others were hurt, including 5 who remain in critical condition.
Thousands had gathered at El-Wak stadium, in the capital, the capital, with the aspiration of enlisting in the military.
Ghana has a youth unemployment rate of about 32%, the latest official data show, and such recruitment events typically attract large crowds and often lead to chaotic scenes.
The closing date to apply for this recruitment was prolonged for a week to accommodate more applicants, as some had experienced difficulties in the process.
Army spokesperson Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the stampede took place before the event's scheduled start of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
The nation's leader John Mahama has gone to see the wounded in medical care.
Calm has been restored, and the recruitment exercise has now begun.
