No Fewer Than 6 Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghana Armed Forces Enlistment Event
At least 6 individuals have lost their lives during a stampede at a armed forces enlistment event held in a sports arena in Ghana.
The midweek "devastating" event seems to have been caused by "a sudden rush of applicants who overcame security measures and rushed into the entrances," stated a statement from the nation's military.
22 additional individuals were injured, including five who remain in serious state.
A large crowd had gathered at the El-Wak sports venue, in the main city, the capital, with the aspiration of enlisting in the armed forces.
Ghana has a youth unemployment rate of approximately thirty-two percent, the most recent government statistics show, and such recruitment events typically draw large crowds and often result in chaotic scenes.
The closing date to apply for this recruitment was extended by a week to accommodate more applicants, as a number had experienced difficulties in the application procedure.
Military representative Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin said the crush took place before the planned commencement time of 06:20 GMT.
The nation's leader President John Mahama has gone to see the injured in hospital.
Calm has been restored, and the enlistment process has now started.
