At Least Six Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghanaian Military Recruitment Event
No fewer than six people have died during a crowd crush at a military recruitment event held in a sports arena in Ghana.
The midweek "devastating" event appeared to have been caused by "an unexpected surge of applicants who overcame security measures and rushed into the entrances," announced a statement from Ghana's armed forces.
22 others were hurt, among them 5 who remain in critical condition.
A large crowd had turned up at the El-Wak sports venue, in the main city, the capital, with the aspiration of joining the military.
The country has a youth unemployment rate of about 32%, the latest official data show, and such recruitment events normally attract massive gatherings and frequently result in disorderly situations.
The closing date to submit applications for this event was prolonged for a week to allow for more applicants, as a number had experienced difficulties in the process.
Army spokesperson Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the crush took place ahead of the event's scheduled start of 06:20 GMT.
The nation's leader President John Mahama has gone to see the injured in hospital.
Order has been restored, and the recruitment exercise has since started.
