A crowd incident at a military recruitment event in El-Wak Stadium, Accra, Ghana, has resulted in the deaths of at least six individuals. The event experienced a significant influx of applicants that overwhelmed security protocols, leading to a crush as people rushed through the gates. An official statement from the Ghanaian armed forces noted that this unexpected surge contributed to the chaos.
In addition to the fatalities, 22 people sustained injuries, with five reported to be in critical condition following the event. Thousands attended the recruitment drive, motivated by the high youth unemployment rate in Ghana, which is approximately 32% according to recent government statistics. Such events typically attract large crowds and have been known to lead to disorder.
The recruitment deadline had been extended by a week to accommodate more applicants, as some had faced challenges in the application process. The incident occurred shortly before the scheduled start time of 06:20 GMT, as stated by Army spokesperson Capt. Veronica Adzo Arhin.
Following the event, Ghana’s President John Mahama visited the injured in the hospital, underscoring the government’s response to the situation. As of now, calm has been restored, and the recruitment exercise has resumed.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crmx0gl82n9o?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss