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At least 6 individuals have died amid a crowd crush at a armed forces enlistment gathering held in a stadium in Ghana.

The midweek "tragic" incident appeared to have been triggered by "an unexpected surge of applicants who overcame security measures and rushed into the gates," announced a release from Ghana's armed forces.

Twenty-two additional individuals were hurt, including 5 who remain in critical condition.

Thousands had gathered at the El-Wak sports venue, in the capital, Accra, with the hope of joining the armed forces.

Ghana has a youth unemployment rate of about thirty-two percent, the most recent government statistics show, and such recruitment events normally attract massive gatherings and frequently lead to chaotic scenes.

The closing date to apply for this recruitment was prolonged for a seven days to accommodate more applicants, as a number had faced difficulties in the application procedure.

Military representative Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin stated the stampede took place before the event's scheduled start of 06:20 GMT.

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

Calm has been restored, and the recruitment exercise has since started.