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At least 6 people have died amid a crowd crush at a military recruitment event held in a stadium in the West African nation.

The midweek "tragic" incident seems to have been triggered by "a sudden rush of candidates who breached security protocols and rushed into the entrances," stated a release from the nation's military.

22 additional individuals were injured, among them 5 who remain in critical condition.

Thousands had turned up at El-Wak stadium, in the main city, Accra, with the hope of enlisting in the armed forces.

The country has a rate of joblessness among young people of about thirty-two percent, the latest official data indicate, and such enlistment drives typically attract large crowds and frequently result in disorderly situations.

The deadline to apply for this event was prolonged for a seven days to allow for additional candidates, as some had faced challenges in the process.

Army spokesperson Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin said the stampede occurred ahead of the planned commencement time of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.

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

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