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No fewer than 6 individuals have died during a stampede at a armed forces enlistment event held in a stadium in Ghana.

The Wednesday's "devastating" event seems to have been triggered by "a sudden rush of applicants who breached security protocols and stormed the entrances," stated a statement from Ghana's armed forces.

22 others were injured, among them five who are in critical condition.

Thousands had gathered at El-Wak stadium, in the capital, the capital, with the hope of enlisting in the armed forces.

The country has a youth unemployment rate of about 32%, the latest official data show, and such recruitment events typically attract massive gatherings and frequently result in chaotic scenes.

The deadline to submit applications for this event was prolonged for a seven days to accommodate more applicants, as a number had faced difficulties in the process.

Army spokesperson Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin said the crush occurred before the planned commencement time of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.

The nation's leader President John Mahama has visited the wounded in hospital.

Calm has been reestablished, and the enlistment process has now begun.