At Least Six Lose Their Lives in Crowd Crush at Ghanaian Military Recruitment Drive
At least 6 individuals have lost their lives during a crowd crush at a military recruitment gathering held in a stadium in the West African nation.
The Wednesday's "devastating" event seems to have been triggered by "an unexpected surge of candidates who breached security protocols and stormed the entrances," stated a release from the nation's military.
22 additional individuals were hurt, among them 5 who are in critical condition.
A large crowd had gathered at El-Wak stadium, in the capital, the capital, with the hope of joining the military.
Ghana has a youth unemployment rate of approximately 32%, the most recent official data show, and such recruitment events typically attract large crowds and frequently lead to disorderly situations.
The deadline to apply for this recruitment was extended by a seven days to accommodate more applicants, as a number had experienced challenges in the process.
Military representative Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin said the crush took place ahead of the planned commencement time of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.
Ghana's President John Mahama has gone to see the wounded in medical care.
Calm has been reestablished, and the enlistment process has now begun.
