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

No fewer than 6 people have died amid a crowd crush at a armed forces enlistment event held in a sports arena in the West African nation.

The midweek "devastating" incident seems to have been caused by "a sudden rush of applicants who overcame security measures and stormed the entrances," announced a release from the nation's military.

Twenty-two additional individuals were injured, including 5 who are in serious state.

Thousands had gathered at the El-Wak sports venue, in the main city, Accra, with the aspiration of enlisting in the armed forces.

Ghana has a youth unemployment rate of about 32%, the latest government statistics indicate, and such enlistment drives typically attract large crowds and frequently result in disorderly situations.

The deadline to apply for this event was prolonged for a week to allow for additional candidates, as a number had faced challenges in the process.

Army spokesperson Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin said the crush took place before the planned commencement time of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.

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

Calm has been reestablished, and the enlistment process has since started.