6 people die in a stampede during a military recruitment exercise in Ghana

ACCRA, Ghana (AP) — The Ghanian military said that six people died in a stampede at a recruitment exercise in Accra on Wednesday.

The military said the stampede was “triggered by an unexpected surge of applicants who breached security protocols” and arrived at the stadium where recruitment was taking place before the slated time. Many others were injured and transported to a military hospital.

Recruitment exercises for Ghana’s security agencies often attract large crowds of young people seeking employment in a country grappling with high youth unemployment.

Ghana’s once-promising economy collapsed under the strain of the COVID-19 pandemic. Inflation has hit a 21-year high of over 50%. Nearly 39% of youth are unemployed, according to government data.

The Associated Press