No Fewer Than Six Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghanaian Armed Forces Enlistment Event
At least 6 people have died during a stampede at a armed forces enlistment event held in a stadium in Ghana.
The Wednesday's "devastating" event seems to have been caused by "a sudden rush of candidates who breached security protocols and rushed into the entrances," stated a release from Ghana's armed forces.
Twenty-two others were hurt, including 5 who are in serious state.
A large crowd had gathered at the El-Wak sports venue, in the main city, the capital, with the aspiration of joining the armed forces.
Ghana has a rate of joblessness among young people of about thirty-two percent, the most recent official data indicate, and such enlistment drives normally attract massive gatherings and often lead to chaotic scenes.
The deadline to apply for this event was extended by a seven days to allow for more applicants, as some had faced challenges in the process.
Military representative Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin said 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 injured in hospital.
Calm has been reestablished, and the recruitment exercise has now started.
