At Least 6 Perish in Crowd Crush at Ghana Armed Forces Enlistment Event
No fewer than 6 individuals have lost their lives during a crowd crush at a armed forces enlistment gathering held in a sports arena in Ghana.
The midweek "tragic" event appeared to have been caused by "an unexpected surge of candidates who breached security protocols and stormed the entrances," announced a release from the nation's military.
22 others were injured, among them 5 who remain in critical condition.
Thousands 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 about 32%, the latest official data show, and such enlistment drives typically draw large crowds and frequently lead to chaotic scenes.
The closing date to apply for this event was prolonged for a week to allow for more applicants, as a number had faced challenges in the application procedure.
Army spokesperson Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the crush took place before the planned commencement time of 06:20 GMT.
Ghana's President John Mahama has gone to see the injured in medical care.
Order has been reestablished, and the enlistment process has since started.
