At Least 6 Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghana Military Recruitment Drive
No fewer than 6 people have died during a stampede at a military recruitment gathering held in a sports arena in the West African nation.
The Wednesday's "devastating" event seems to have been triggered by "a sudden rush of applicants who overcame security measures and rushed into the gates," announced a release from the nation's military.
Twenty-two additional individuals were hurt, among them five who are in serious state.
A large crowd had gathered at El-Wak stadium, in the capital, the capital, with the aspiration of enlisting in the armed forces.
The country has a youth unemployment rate of approximately thirty-two percent, the most recent government statistics indicate, and such enlistment drives normally attract large crowds and frequently lead to disorderly situations.
The closing date to apply for this recruitment was prolonged for a seven days to accommodate additional candidates, as a number had faced difficulties in the process.
Military representative Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the crush took place before the event's scheduled start of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
Ghana's President President John Mahama has gone to see the injured in medical care.
Order has been reestablished, and the recruitment exercise has since started.
