No Fewer Than 6 Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghanaian Armed Forces Enlistment Event
At least six individuals have lost their lives amid a stampede at a armed forces enlistment event held in a stadium in Ghana.
The midweek "tragic" event appeared to have been triggered by "a sudden rush of applicants who breached security protocols and rushed into the gates," announced a statement from Ghana's armed forces.
Twenty-two others were hurt, among them five who remain in critical condition.
A large crowd had gathered at El-Wak stadium, in the main city, Accra, with the aspiration of joining the armed forces.
Ghana has a rate of joblessness among young people of about 32%, the latest government statistics indicate, and such enlistment drives normally attract massive gatherings and often lead to disorderly situations.
The deadline to apply for this event was extended by a week to allow for more applicants, as a number had faced difficulties in the application procedure.
Army spokesperson Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the crush took place before the event's scheduled start of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
The nation's leader John Mahama has visited the wounded in medical care.
Calm has been restored, and the enlistment process has now begun.
