No Fewer Than Six Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghanaian Military Recruitment Event
At least 6 individuals have lost their lives amid a crowd crush at a military recruitment event held in a stadium in Ghana.
The midweek "devastating" incident appeared to have been triggered by "a sudden rush of applicants who overcame security measures and rushed into the gates," stated a statement from the nation's military.
22 others were hurt, among them five who are in serious state.
Thousands had gathered at El-Wak stadium, in the capital, Accra, with the aspiration of joining the military.
Ghana has a rate of joblessness among young people of about thirty-two percent, the most recent official data show, and such recruitment events normally attract large crowds and often result in disorderly situations.
The closing date to apply for this recruitment was extended by a week to allow for more applicants, as some had faced challenges in the application procedure.
Army spokesperson Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the crush occurred before the planned commencement time of 06:20 GMT.
Ghana's President John Mahama has visited the wounded in medical care.
Order has been reestablished, and the recruitment exercise has now started.
