No fewer than six individuals have lost their lives during a crowd crush at a military recruitment gathering held in a sports arena in Ghana.
The midweek "devastating" event seems to have been caused by "an unexpected surge of applicants who overcame security measures and stormed the gates," announced a statement from Ghana's armed forces.
22 additional individuals were injured, including five who remain in critical condition.
A large crowd had turned up at El-Wak stadium, in the main city, Accra, with the hope of joining the military.
Ghana has a rate of joblessness among young people of approximately thirty-two percent, the most recent official data show, and such recruitment events typically draw massive gatherings and often lead to chaotic scenes.
The deadline to apply for this event was prolonged for a week to accommodate more applicants, as a number had faced difficulties in the process.
Military representative Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin said the crush occurred ahead of the event's scheduled start of 06:20 GMT.
The nation's leader John Mahama has gone to see the injured in medical care.
Calm has been reestablished, and the enlistment process has now begun.
Milan is een ervaren opticien met een passie voor visuele technologie en klantgerichtheid.
