No Fewer Than 6 Perish in Stampede at Ghana Military Recruitment Drive

At least six people have died during a stampede at a armed forces enlistment gathering held in a sports arena in the West African nation.

The Wednesday's "tragic" incident seems to have been caused by "a sudden rush of candidates who breached security protocols and stormed the gates," announced a release from the nation's military.

22 others were injured, among them 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.

Ghana has a youth unemployment rate of approximately 32%, the most recent government statistics indicate, and such recruitment events normally draw large crowds and frequently result in chaotic scenes.

The deadline to submit applications for this recruitment was extended by a week to allow for additional candidates, as some 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.

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

Order has been restored, and the enlistment process has since started.