No Fewer Than 6 Perish in Stampede at Ghana Armed Forces Enlistment Drive
No fewer than 6 individuals have died during a stampede at a armed forces enlistment gathering held in a stadium in Ghana.
The midweek "devastating" event seems to have been caused by "an unexpected surge of candidates who overcame security measures and rushed into the entrances," stated a statement from the nation's military.
22 others were hurt, among them five who remain in critical condition.
A large crowd had turned up at the El-Wak sports venue, in the main city, the capital, with the hope of joining the armed forces.
The country has a rate of joblessness among young people of approximately thirty-two percent, the most recent government statistics indicate, and such enlistment drives normally attract large crowds and often result in disorderly situations.
The deadline to apply for this recruitment was extended by a seven days to accommodate additional candidates, as a number had faced difficulties in the process.
Army spokesperson Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin said the crush took place ahead of the event's scheduled start of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
The nation's leader President John Mahama has gone to see the injured in medical care.
Order has been reestablished, and the enlistment process has now begun.
