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At least 6 individuals have died amid a crowd crush at a military recruitment gathering held in a sports arena in the West African nation.

The Wednesday's "devastating" event appeared to have been triggered by "an unexpected surge of candidates who overcame security measures and rushed into the entrances," stated a release from the nation's military.

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

A large crowd had turned up at El-Wak stadium, in the main city, Accra, with the aspiration of enlisting in the armed forces.

The country has a youth unemployment rate of approximately thirty-two percent, the most recent official data indicate, and such recruitment events typically draw massive gatherings and frequently result in disorderly situations.

The deadline to submit applications for this event was extended by a week to accommodate more applicants, as some had faced challenges in the application procedure.

Army spokesperson Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the stampede took place ahead of the event's scheduled start of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.

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

Calm has been restored, and the enlistment process has since begun.