At Least Six Perish in Crowd Crush at Ghana Military Recruitment Drive

At least six people have lost their lives amid a stampede at a military recruitment event held in a stadium in Ghana.

The midweek "devastating" incident appeared to have been caused by "a sudden rush of applicants who overcame security measures and stormed the entrances," stated a release from Ghana's armed forces.

22 additional individuals were hurt, including five who remain in critical condition.

Thousands had gathered at El-Wak stadium, in the capital, the capital, with the aspiration of joining the armed forces.

The country has a youth unemployment rate of about thirty-two percent, the most recent official data show, and such enlistment drives typically attract large crowds and frequently result in chaotic scenes.

The closing date to apply for this recruitment was extended by a week to accommodate additional candidates, as some had faced difficulties in the process.

Army spokesperson Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the stampede occurred before the event's scheduled start of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.

Ghana's President President John Mahama has visited the injured in hospital.

Calm has been reestablished, and the recruitment exercise has now started.