No Fewer Than 6 Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghanaian Military Recruitment Drive
No fewer than six people have lost their lives amid a stampede at a military recruitment event held in a sports arena in Ghana.
The Wednesday's "devastating" incident seems to have been triggered by "an unexpected surge of candidates who overcame security measures and stormed the gates," announced a release from Ghana's armed forces.
Twenty-two others were hurt, among them 5 who are in serious state.
A large crowd had gathered at El-Wak stadium, in the main city, Accra, with the hope of joining the armed forces.
Ghana has a youth unemployment rate of about thirty-two percent, the most recent government statistics show, and such recruitment events typically draw large crowds and often result in disorderly situations.
The deadline to apply for this event was extended by a week to accommodate additional candidates, as some had experienced difficulties in the application procedure.
Military representative Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the stampede occurred 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 wounded in medical care.
Calm has been restored, and the recruitment exercise has since started.
