No Fewer Than 6 Lose Their Lives in Crowd Crush at Ghanaian Military Recruitment Drive

Event location
Thousands Gathered at the Location in the Capital

At least six people have died amid a stampede at a military recruitment gathering held in a stadium in Ghana.

The midweek "devastating" event seems to have been caused by "a sudden rush of applicants who overcame security measures and rushed into the entrances," stated a statement from the nation's military.

22 others were hurt, including five who remain in critical condition.

A large crowd had gathered at El-Wak stadium, in the capital, Accra, with the hope of enlisting in the armed forces.

The country has a youth unemployment rate of about 32%, the latest official data show, and such enlistment drives typically attract massive gatherings and frequently lead to chaotic scenes.

The deadline to apply for this event was prolonged for a seven days to accommodate more applicants, as a number had experienced difficulties in the process.

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

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

Order has been restored, and the recruitment exercise has now begun.

Kathleen Murphy
Kathleen Murphy

Elias Vance is a tech consultant and digital strategist with over 12 years of experience in helping UK businesses adapt to technological changes.