No Fewer Than Six Lose Their Lives in Crowd Crush at Ghana Military Recruitment Drive

Event location
A Multitude Gathered at the Venue in Accra

No fewer than six individuals have died amid a crowd crush at a armed forces enlistment gathering held in a stadium in the West African nation.

The midweek "tragic" event appeared to have been caused by "a sudden rush of applicants who breached security protocols and stormed the entrances," stated a release from Ghana's armed forces.

Twenty-two additional individuals were hurt, including 5 who remain in serious state.

Thousands had turned up 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 thirty-two percent, the most recent official data indicate, and such enlistment drives normally attract large crowds and frequently result in chaotic scenes.

The closing date to submit applications for this recruitment was extended by a seven days to accommodate more applicants, as a number had experienced difficulties in the process.

Military representative Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin said the crush took place ahead of the planned commencement time of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.

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

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

Melissa Nelson
Melissa Nelson

Neuroscientist and medical technology innovator specializing in non-invasive brain health diagnostics and AI applications in healthcare.