No Fewer Than 6 Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghana Military Recruitment Event

At least 6 people have died during a crowd crush at a military recruitment event held in a stadium in Ghana.

The Wednesday's "devastating" incident appeared to have been caused by "a sudden rush of applicants who breached security protocols and rushed into the gates," stated a release from Ghana's armed forces.

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

A large crowd had turned up at El-Wak stadium, in the capital, Accra, with the hope of joining the armed forces.

The country has a rate of joblessness among young people of about 32%, the most recent official data indicate, and such recruitment events typically draw massive gatherings and often result in chaotic scenes.

The closing date to apply for this event was extended by a seven days to accommodate more applicants, as some had experienced challenges in the application procedure.

Army spokesperson Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the crush occurred ahead of the planned commencement time of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.

Ghana's President John Mahama has gone to see the injured in hospital.

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