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No fewer than 6 people have died during a crowd crush at a military recruitment event held in a stadium in the West African nation.

The midweek "tragic" incident appeared to have been triggered by "an unexpected surge of candidates who breached security protocols and rushed into the entrances," stated a release from Ghana's armed forces.

22 additional individuals were hurt, including 5 who are in critical condition.

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

Ghana has a youth unemployment rate of approximately thirty-two percent, the latest government statistics indicate, and such enlistment drives typically draw massive gatherings and often result in chaotic scenes.

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

Army spokesperson Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin said the crush occurred ahead of the event's scheduled start of 06:20 GMT.

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

Calm has been reestablished, and the recruitment exercise has now started.