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

At least 6 people have died amid a stampede at a armed forces enlistment gathering held in a sports arena in Ghana.

The Wednesday's "devastating" event appeared to have been caused by "a sudden rush of candidates who overcame security measures and rushed into the entrances," announced a release from Ghana's armed forces.

22 additional individuals were hurt, among them 5 who remain in critical condition.

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

The country has a rate of joblessness among young people of approximately thirty-two percent, the most recent government statistics show, and such recruitment events normally draw large crowds and frequently result in chaotic scenes.

The closing date to apply for this recruitment was prolonged for a week to accommodate additional candidates, as a number had faced challenges in the application procedure.

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

The nation's leader President John Mahama has visited the injured in hospital.

Order has been restored, and the recruitment exercise has now started.