At Least 6 Perish in Crowd Crush at Ghanaian Armed Forces Enlistment Drive
At least 6 people have died amid a crowd crush at a armed forces enlistment event held in a stadium in the West African nation.
The midweek "devastating" event seems to have been triggered by "a sudden rush of candidates who breached security protocols and rushed into the entrances," announced a release from the nation's military.
22 others were hurt, including 5 who remain in serious state.
A large crowd had turned up at El-Wak stadium, in the main city, the capital, with the hope of enlisting in the military.
The country has a rate of joblessness among young people of about thirty-two percent, the most recent government statistics indicate, and such recruitment events typically attract massive gatherings and often lead to chaotic scenes.
The deadline to submit applications for this recruitment was prolonged for a seven days to accommodate more applicants, as some had experienced challenges in the process.
Military representative Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the crush took place ahead of the planned commencement time of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
Ghana's President President John Mahama has visited the wounded in medical care.
Calm has been restored, and the enlistment process has now begun.
