At Least 6 Perish in Stampede at Ghana Military Recruitment Event
At least 6 individuals have lost their lives during a stampede at a military recruitment event held in a sports arena in the West African nation.
The Wednesday's "devastating" event seems to have been caused by "a sudden rush of applicants who overcame security measures and stormed the entrances," announced a statement from the nation's military.
22 additional individuals were injured, including 5 who remain in critical condition.
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 latest government statistics indicate, and such recruitment events normally draw large crowds and frequently result in disorderly situations.
The deadline to submit applications for this recruitment was extended by a week to accommodate more applicants, as a number had experienced difficulties in the application procedure.
Military representative Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the crush took place ahead of the event's scheduled start of 06:20 GMT.
The nation's leader John Mahama has visited the wounded in medical care.
Order has been reestablished, and the enlistment process has since begun.
