At Least Six Lose Their Lives in Stampede at Ghana Military Recruitment Drive

No fewer than 6 people have lost their lives amid a crowd crush at a military recruitment event held in a sports arena in the West African nation.

The Wednesday's "tragic" event seems to have been caused by "an unexpected surge of candidates who overcame security measures and rushed into the entrances," stated a statement from Ghana's armed forces.

Twenty-two additional individuals were injured, including five who remain in critical condition.

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

The country has a rate of joblessness among young people of about thirty-two percent, the latest government statistics indicate, and such enlistment drives normally attract massive gatherings and often result in chaotic scenes.

The deadline to submit applications for this event was extended by a seven days to accommodate additional candidates, as a number had faced difficulties in the application procedure.

Military representative Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the crush occurred ahead of the planned commencement time of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.

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

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