No Fewer Than 6 Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghanaian Armed Forces Enlistment Drive

Event location
A Multitude Gathered at the Location in the Capital

No fewer than 6 people have died amid a crowd crush at a armed forces enlistment gathering held in a stadium in Ghana.

The Wednesday's "devastating" event seems to have been caused by "an unexpected surge of candidates who overcame security measures and rushed into the entrances," announced a release from the nation's military.

22 others were injured, including five who are in serious state.

A large crowd had turned up at El-Wak stadium, in the main city, Accra, with the aspiration of enlisting in the military.

Ghana has a rate of joblessness among young people of approximately thirty-two percent, the most recent official data indicate, and such recruitment events normally attract massive gatherings and often lead to disorderly situations.

The deadline to apply for this event was prolonged for a week to accommodate additional candidates, as a number had faced difficulties in the application procedure.

Military representative Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin said the stampede occurred ahead of the event's scheduled start of 06:20 GMT.

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

Order has been restored, and the recruitment exercise has since begun.

Chelsea Ortega
Chelsea Ortega

Award-winning film critic with over a decade of experience covering international cinema and festival circuits.