🔗 Share this article

At least six people have died amid a crowd crush at a military recruitment event held in a sports arena in Ghana.

The Wednesday's "tragic" event appeared to have been triggered by "a sudden rush of candidates who breached security protocols and rushed into the entrances," announced a statement from the nation's military.

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

Thousands had gathered at El-Wak stadium, in the main city, the capital, with the hope of joining the military.

The country has a rate of joblessness among young people of about thirty-two percent, the most recent official data indicate, and such enlistment drives normally draw large crowds and frequently result in chaotic scenes.

The deadline to apply for this event was prolonged for a seven days to allow for more applicants, as some had faced challenges in the application procedure.

Army spokesperson Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the stampede took place before the event's scheduled start of 06:20 GMT.

The nation's leader President John Mahama has gone to see the wounded in medical care.

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