At Least Six Lose Their Lives in Crowd Crush at Ghanaian Armed Forces Enlistment Event

No fewer than six people have died amid a stampede at a armed forces enlistment event held in a stadium in the West African nation.

The midweek "devastating" event seems to have been caused by "a sudden rush of candidates who breached security protocols and stormed the entrances," stated a statement from Ghana's armed forces.

Twenty-two additional individuals were hurt, including five who are in critical condition.

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

The country has a rate of joblessness among young people of about thirty-two percent, the latest official data indicate, and such recruitment events typically draw large crowds and often result in disorderly situations.

The closing date to submit applications for this recruitment was extended by a week to allow for more applicants, as some had experienced difficulties in the application procedure.

Military representative Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the crush occurred ahead of the event's scheduled start of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.

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

Calm has been restored, and the enlistment process has since begun.