At Least 6 Perish in Crowd Crush at Ghana Military Recruitment Event
At least 6 people have lost their lives during a crowd crush at a armed forces enlistment gathering held in a sports arena in Ghana.
The midweek "devastating" event appeared to have been triggered by "a sudden rush of applicants who breached security protocols and rushed into the gates," announced a release from Ghana's armed forces.
22 additional individuals were hurt, including 5 who remain in serious state.
A large crowd had gathered at El-Wak stadium, in the capital, Accra, with the hope of joining the military.
Ghana has a rate of joblessness among young people of approximately thirty-two percent, the most recent government statistics indicate, and such enlistment drives typically attract large crowds and often lead to disorderly situations.
The deadline to submit applications for this event was extended by a week to accommodate additional candidates, as some had faced difficulties in the process.
Army spokesperson Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin said the crush took place ahead of the planned commencement time of 06:20 GMT.
The nation's leader John Mahama has gone to see the wounded in medical care.
Calm has been reestablished, and the recruitment exercise has since started.
