At Least Six Perish in Crowd Crush at Ghana Armed Forces Enlistment Drive

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

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

Twenty-two others were injured, including five who remain in serious state.

Thousands had turned up at El-Wak stadium, in the capital, Accra, with the hope of joining the military.

Ghana has a youth unemployment rate of about 32%, the most recent official data show, and such recruitment events normally attract massive gatherings and frequently lead to chaotic scenes.

The closing date to apply for this event was prolonged for a seven days to accommodate more applicants, as some had experienced challenges in the process.

Army spokesperson Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin said the crush took place ahead of the event's scheduled start of 06:20 GMT.

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

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