At Least Six Perish in Crowd Crush at Ghanaian Military Recruitment Drive

No fewer than six people have lost their lives amid a stampede at a armed forces enlistment event held in a stadium in the West African nation.

The Wednesday's "tragic" event seems to have been triggered by "an unexpected surge of candidates who overcame security measures and rushed into the gates," announced a statement from Ghana's armed forces.

Twenty-two others were hurt, including five who remain in critical condition.

Thousands had gathered at the El-Wak sports venue, in the capital, Accra, with the hope of joining the armed forces.

The country has a youth unemployment rate of about 32%, the most recent government statistics indicate, and such recruitment events typically draw massive gatherings and often result in disorderly situations.

The deadline to apply for this event was prolonged for a week to allow for additional candidates, as a number had experienced difficulties in the process.

Military representative Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin said the crush took place before the event's scheduled start of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.

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

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