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No fewer than 6 individuals have died amid a stampede at a armed forces enlistment event held in a sports arena in Ghana.

The Wednesday's "devastating" event appeared to have been caused by "a sudden rush of candidates who breached security protocols and rushed into the gates," announced a statement from Ghana's armed forces.

22 additional individuals were injured, among them five who are in serious state.

A large crowd had turned up at the El-Wak sports venue, in the capital, the capital, with the aspiration of joining the military.

The country has a youth unemployment rate of about 32%, the most recent official data indicate, and such enlistment drives normally attract large crowds and often lead to disorderly situations.

The closing date to apply for this recruitment was prolonged for a seven days to allow for additional candidates, as some had experienced difficulties in the application procedure.

Military representative Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin said the crush occurred ahead of the planned commencement time of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.

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

Order has been restored, and the recruitment exercise has now begun.