At Least Six Perish in Stampede at Ghana Armed Forces Enlistment Event
No fewer than 6 individuals have lost their lives during a crowd crush at a armed forces enlistment gathering held in a sports arena in Ghana.
The Wednesday's "devastating" incident appeared to have been caused by "an unexpected surge of applicants who overcame security measures and stormed the entrances," stated a statement from the nation's military.
22 others were injured, among them 5 who remain in serious state.
Thousands had gathered at El-Wak stadium, in the main city, Accra, with the aspiration of enlisting in the armed forces.
The country has a youth unemployment rate of approximately 32%, the latest official data indicate, and such recruitment events normally attract massive gatherings and frequently result in disorderly situations.
The deadline to apply for this event was extended by a week to allow for additional candidates, as a number had experienced difficulties in the process.
Military representative Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the crush occurred before the planned commencement time of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
Ghana's President John Mahama has visited the injured in medical care.
Calm has been reestablished, and the recruitment exercise has since begun.
