At Least 6 Lose Their Lives in Crowd Crush at Ghana Armed Forces Enlistment Event
No fewer than 6 people have died during a crowd crush at a armed forces enlistment gathering held in a sports arena in the West African nation.
The Wednesday's "tragic" incident appeared to have been triggered by "a sudden rush of candidates who breached security protocols and rushed into the entrances," stated a statement from Ghana's armed forces.
22 additional individuals were injured, including five who are in serious state.
A large crowd had turned up at the El-Wak sports venue, in the capital, the capital, with the hope of enlisting in the armed forces.
Ghana has a rate of joblessness among young people of approximately thirty-two percent, the most recent official data show, and such recruitment events normally draw large crowds and often result in chaotic scenes.
The closing date to submit applications for this event was extended by a seven days to accommodate more applicants, as some had faced challenges in the process.
Military representative Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin said the stampede took place ahead of the planned commencement time of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
Ghana's President John Mahama has visited the injured in hospital.
Calm has been reestablished, and the recruitment exercise has now started.
