At Least Six Perish in Stampede at Ghana Military Recruitment Event
At least 6 individuals have lost their lives amid a stampede at a military recruitment gathering held in a stadium in the West African nation.
The midweek "tragic" incident appeared to have been caused by "an unexpected surge of applicants who breached security protocols and rushed into the entrances," announced a release from the nation's military.
22 additional individuals were hurt, including 5 who remain in critical condition.
Thousands had gathered at the El-Wak sports venue, in the capital, the capital, with the aspiration of enlisting in the military.
The country has a youth unemployment rate of approximately thirty-two percent, the latest government statistics show, and such recruitment events normally attract massive gatherings and often result in chaotic scenes.
The deadline to submit applications for this recruitment was extended by a seven days to allow for more applicants, as a number had experienced difficulties in the application procedure.
Military representative Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the stampede took place ahead of the planned commencement time of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
The nation's leader President John Mahama has gone to see the injured in hospital.
Calm has been reestablished, and the enlistment process has since begun.
