No Fewer Than Six Perish in Stampede at Ghanaian Armed Forces Enlistment Drive
At least 6 individuals have lost their lives amid a stampede at a armed forces enlistment gathering held in a sports arena in the West African nation.
The Wednesday's "tragic" event seems to have been triggered by "a sudden rush of applicants who breached security protocols and stormed the gates," stated a statement from Ghana's armed forces.
22 additional individuals were hurt, including 5 who remain in critical condition.
A large crowd had turned up at El-Wak stadium, in the capital, the capital, with the hope of joining the armed forces.
Ghana has a rate of joblessness among young people of about thirty-two percent, the latest official data indicate, and such recruitment events typically attract large crowds and frequently lead to disorderly situations.
The closing date to apply for this recruitment was extended by a seven days to allow for more applicants, as a number had experienced challenges in the process.
Military representative Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the crush took place before the event's scheduled start of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
Ghana's President President John Mahama has visited the wounded in hospital.
Calm has been restored, and the recruitment exercise has since started.
