At least six people have died following a tragic stampede at the El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra, Ghana, during a military recruitment exercise.
The incident occurred early Wednesday morning before the event officially began. Witnesses said a sudden surge of eager applicants rushing through the gates overwhelmed security officers, leading to chaos and a deadly crowd crush.
Thousands of young Ghanaians had gathered at the stadium, hoping to secure limited positions in the Ghana Armed Forces. The country’s youth unemployment rate, estimated at around 13%, has intensified the rush for stable government jobs like those in the military.
Authorities said the recruitment deadline had been extended by a week to allow more people to apply after difficulties with online registration. The extension, however, led to an unexpectedly large turnout.
Several people sustained injuries and are receiving treatment at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra. Security forces have since restored order at the scene, and the recruitment exercise is continuing under tighter supervision.
The Ghana Armed Forces expressed condolences to the victims’ families and assured the public that a full investigation will be conducted to determine the causes of the incident and prevent a recurrence.
The tragedy has reignited discussions about unemployment and crowd management in Ghana, as thousands of young people continue to seek limited job opportunities in a challenging economy.