At Least Six Perish in Crowd Crush at Ghana Military Recruitment Drive
No fewer than 6 individuals have lost their lives during a crowd crush at a military recruitment gathering held in a stadium in the West African nation.
The midweek "devastating" incident seems to have been caused by "a sudden rush of candidates who breached security protocols and stormed the entrances," stated a release from Ghana's armed forces.
22 additional individuals were injured, including five who are in critical condition.
Thousands had turned up at El-Wak stadium, in the capital, the capital, with the hope of enlisting in the armed forces.
The country has a youth unemployment rate of approximately 32%, the latest official data show, and such enlistment drives normally attract massive gatherings and often result in disorderly situations.
The closing date to apply for this recruitment was extended by a week to allow for additional candidates, as a number had faced difficulties in the application procedure.
Military representative Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the crush occurred ahead of the event's scheduled start of 06:20 GMT.
The nation's leader John Mahama has gone to see the injured in medical care.
Order has been reestablished, and the enlistment process has now begun.
