At Least Six Perish in Stampede at Ghanaian Armed Forces Enlistment Event
At least six individuals have died during a stampede at a armed forces enlistment gathering held in a sports arena in Ghana.
The midweek "devastating" event seems to have been triggered by "an unexpected surge of candidates who breached security protocols and stormed the gates," announced a statement from Ghana's armed forces.
Twenty-two additional individuals were injured, among them five who are in serious state.
Thousands had gathered at El-Wak stadium, in the main city, the capital, with the hope of enlisting in the armed forces.
Ghana has a rate of joblessness among young people of approximately thirty-two percent, the most recent government statistics show, and such enlistment drives typically draw large crowds and often lead to chaotic scenes.
The closing date to submit applications for this recruitment was extended by a week to allow for additional candidates, as a number had faced challenges in the process.
Military representative Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the stampede took place before the planned commencement time of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
Ghana's President President John Mahama has visited the injured in hospital.
Calm has been restored, and the enlistment process has since started.
