No Fewer Than 6 Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghana Armed Forces Enlistment Event
At least 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" event appeared to have been triggered by "an unexpected surge of candidates who breached security protocols and stormed the entrances," stated a statement from the nation's military.
22 others were hurt, among them 5 who remain in serious state.
Thousands had turned up at the El-Wak sports venue, in the capital, Accra, with the aspiration of joining the armed forces.
Ghana has a youth unemployment rate of about 32%, the latest official data show, and such recruitment events normally draw massive gatherings and often result in chaotic scenes.
The deadline to apply for this recruitment was prolonged for a seven days to allow for more applicants, as some had experienced challenges in the application procedure.
Military representative Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the crush occurred ahead of the event's scheduled start of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
The nation's leader President John Mahama has gone to see the wounded in hospital.
Calm has been reestablished, and the recruitment exercise has since started.
