No Fewer Than Six Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghana Armed Forces Enlistment Drive
At least 6 people have died during a crowd crush at a armed forces enlistment gathering held in a sports arena in the West African nation.
The Wednesday's "devastating" incident seems to have been caused by "a sudden rush of candidates who breached security protocols and rushed into the gates," stated a release from the nation's military.
Twenty-two additional individuals were injured, among them five who are in critical condition.
Thousands had gathered at the El-Wak sports venue, in the main city, Accra, with the hope of enlisting in the armed forces.
Ghana has a youth unemployment rate of about thirty-two percent, the most recent government statistics indicate, and such recruitment events normally draw massive gatherings and often lead to chaotic scenes.
The closing date to apply for this recruitment was extended by a week to allow for more applicants, as a number had experienced difficulties in the process.
Army spokesperson Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the stampede occurred ahead of the planned commencement time of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
The nation's leader John Mahama has gone to see the wounded in hospital.
Calm has been reestablished, and the enlistment process has since begun.
