No Fewer Than 6 Lose Their Lives in Crowd Crush at Ghanaian Armed Forces Enlistment Drive
At least six individuals have lost their lives amid a crowd crush at a armed forces enlistment event held in a sports arena in Ghana.
The Wednesday's "devastating" event appeared to have been triggered by "a sudden rush of candidates who breached security protocols and rushed into the entrances," announced a statement from Ghana's armed forces.
22 others were injured, among them five who remain in critical condition.
Thousands had gathered at the El-Wak sports venue, in the main city, the capital, with the aspiration of enlisting in the armed forces.
Ghana has a youth unemployment rate of approximately thirty-two percent, the most recent official data show, and such enlistment drives normally attract massive gatherings and frequently lead to chaotic scenes.
The closing date to apply for this recruitment was extended by a seven days to accommodate additional candidates, as some had faced challenges in the application procedure.
Military representative Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin said the crush took place ahead of the event's scheduled start of 06:20 GMT.
Ghana's President John Mahama has visited the injured in hospital.
Calm has been reestablished, and the enlistment process has now begun.
