No Fewer Than 6 Lose Their Lives in Crowd Crush at Ghana Military Recruitment Drive
At least 6 individuals have died during a crowd crush at a military recruitment event held in a sports arena in the West African nation.
The Wednesday's "devastating" incident seems to have been caused by "an unexpected surge of candidates who overcame security measures and rushed into the entrances," announced a release from the nation's military.
Twenty-two others were injured, among them 5 who are in critical condition.
A large crowd had gathered at the El-Wak sports venue, in the capital, the capital, with the hope of enlisting in the armed forces.
The country has a rate of joblessness among young people of about thirty-two percent, the most recent official data show, and such recruitment events normally draw large crowds and frequently lead to chaotic scenes.
The closing date to submit applications for this recruitment was extended by a week to allow for more applicants, as a number had experienced challenges in the application procedure.
Army spokesperson Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the stampede took place before the planned commencement time of 06:20 GMT.
Ghana's President President John Mahama has gone to see the injured in hospital.
Order has been reestablished, and the enlistment process has since begun.
