No Fewer Than 6 Lose Their Lives in Crowd Crush at Ghana Armed Forces Enlistment Event

No fewer than six people have lost their lives during a crowd crush at a military recruitment event held in a stadium in Ghana.

The midweek "devastating" incident seems to have been triggered by "an unexpected surge of candidates who breached security protocols and stormed the gates," stated a release from the nation's military.

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

Thousands had gathered at El-Wak stadium, in the capital, Accra, with the aspiration of joining the armed forces.

The country has a youth unemployment rate of about thirty-two percent, the latest official data show, and such enlistment drives typically draw large crowds and often result in disorderly situations.

The deadline to apply for this recruitment was extended by a week to accommodate more applicants, as some had experienced difficulties in the application procedure.

Army spokesperson Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin said the stampede took place ahead of the planned commencement time of 06:20 GMT.

The nation's leader President John Mahama has gone to see the injured in hospital.

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