No Fewer Than Six Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghana Armed Forces Enlistment Event
At least 6 individuals have died amid a stampede at a armed forces enlistment event held in a sports arena in Ghana.
The Wednesday's "tragic" incident appeared to have been triggered by "a sudden rush of applicants who breached security protocols and stormed the gates," stated a statement from the nation's military.
22 additional individuals were hurt, among them 5 who are in critical condition.
A large crowd had turned up at El-Wak stadium, in the main city, Accra, with the hope of joining the armed forces.
Ghana has a rate of joblessness among young people of about thirty-two percent, the latest government statistics indicate, and such enlistment drives typically attract massive gatherings and often lead to disorderly situations.
The deadline to submit applications for this event was extended by a seven days to accommodate more applicants, as a number had experienced challenges in the application procedure.
Army spokesperson Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the stampede took place ahead of the event's scheduled start of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
Ghana's President John Mahama has gone to see the injured in medical care.
Order has been reestablished, and the recruitment exercise has now started.
