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At least 6 individuals have lost their lives during a crowd crush at a armed forces enlistment event held in a stadium in the West African nation.

The Wednesday's "devastating" event appeared to have been caused by "an unexpected surge of candidates who overcame security measures and rushed into the gates," announced a release from Ghana's armed forces.

22 others were hurt, including five who remain in serious state.

Thousands had gathered at the El-Wak sports venue, in the capital, the capital, with the aspiration of enlisting in the armed forces.

The country has a rate of joblessness among young people of approximately 32%, the most recent official data indicate, and such enlistment drives normally draw massive gatherings and frequently result in chaotic scenes.

The closing date to submit applications for this event was extended by a week to allow for additional candidates, as some had experienced difficulties in the application procedure.

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

Ghana's President President John Mahama has visited the injured in hospital.

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