No Fewer Than Six Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghana Armed Forces Enlistment Drive
No fewer than 6 individuals have lost their lives during a stampede at a armed forces enlistment event held in a sports arena in the West African nation.
The midweek "devastating" event appeared to have been caused by "an unexpected surge of candidates who overcame security measures and rushed into the gates," announced a statement from the nation's military.
22 others were hurt, including 5 who remain in serious state.
Thousands had gathered at El-Wak stadium, in the main city, the capital, with the hope of joining the military.
The country has a youth unemployment rate of approximately thirty-two percent, the latest government statistics show, and such enlistment drives typically attract massive gatherings and frequently result in chaotic scenes.
The deadline to submit applications for this event was prolonged for a seven days to accommodate additional candidates, as some had experienced challenges in the application procedure.
Military representative Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the stampede took place ahead of the event's scheduled start of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
The nation's leader John Mahama has gone to see the wounded in hospital.
Order has been reestablished, and the enlistment process has since started.
