At Least Six Perish in Crowd Crush at Ghanaian Military Recruitment Event
No fewer than six people have died amid a crowd crush at a military recruitment event held in a sports arena in the West African nation.
The Wednesday's "tragic" event seems to have been caused by "an unexpected surge of candidates who overcame security measures and stormed the gates," stated a release from Ghana's armed forces.
Twenty-two others were hurt, including five who are in critical condition.
A large crowd had gathered at the El-Wak sports venue, in the capital, Accra, 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 government statistics indicate, and such recruitment events normally draw massive gatherings and often result in disorderly situations.
The deadline to submit applications for this event was extended by a week to allow for additional candidates, as some had faced difficulties in the process.
Military representative Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin said the stampede took place before the planned commencement time of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
Ghana's President President John Mahama has gone to see the injured in medical care.
Calm has been restored, and the enlistment process has now started.
