No Fewer Than Six Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghanaian Armed Forces Enlistment Event
At least 6 people have lost their lives amid a stampede at a armed forces enlistment event held in a sports arena in the West African nation.
The midweek "tragic" event appeared to have been triggered by "a sudden rush of candidates who breached security protocols and rushed into the gates," stated a statement from the nation's military.
22 additional individuals were hurt, among them 5 who remain in serious state.
Thousands had turned up at El-Wak stadium, in the capital, Accra, with the aspiration of enlisting in the armed forces.
Ghana has a youth unemployment rate of approximately thirty-two percent, the most recent government statistics indicate, and such enlistment drives normally attract large crowds and often result in chaotic scenes.
The deadline to submit applications for this recruitment was extended by a week to accommodate additional candidates, as a number had experienced challenges in the application procedure.
Army spokesperson Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin said the stampede occurred ahead of the planned commencement time of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
Ghana's President John Mahama has visited the wounded in hospital.
Calm has been reestablished, and the enlistment process has now started.