At Least Six Lose Their Lives in Crowd Crush at Ghanaian Armed Forces Enlistment Drive

No fewer than six individuals have died amid a crowd crush at a military recruitment gathering held in a sports arena in the West African nation.

The Wednesday's "tragic" event appeared to have been triggered by "a sudden rush of applicants who breached security protocols and rushed into the entrances," stated a statement from Ghana's armed forces.

Twenty-two others were hurt, including 5 who are in critical condition.

A large crowd had turned up at the El-Wak sports venue, in the capital, Accra, with the aspiration of joining the armed forces.

The country has a youth unemployment rate of approximately thirty-two percent, the most recent government statistics indicate, and such recruitment events typically draw massive gatherings and often lead to chaotic scenes.

The deadline to apply for this recruitment was prolonged for a week to allow for more applicants, as some had faced difficulties in the process.

Military representative Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin said the stampede occurred before the planned commencement time of 06:20 GMT.

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

Calm has been restored, and the enlistment process has now begun.