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No fewer than six individuals have died amid a crowd crush at a military recruitment gathering held in a stadium in Ghana.

The midweek "devastating" event appeared to have been caused by "a sudden rush of candidates who overcame security measures and rushed into the entrances," stated a statement from Ghana's armed forces.

22 others were hurt, among them five who remain in critical condition.

A large crowd had gathered at the El-Wak sports venue, in the main city, Accra, with the hope of enlisting in the armed forces.

Ghana has a youth unemployment rate of approximately thirty-two percent, the latest official data indicate, and such recruitment events normally draw massive gatherings and frequently result in chaotic scenes.

The closing date to apply for this recruitment was extended by a week to allow for additional candidates, as some had experienced challenges in the application procedure.

Military representative Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin said the stampede occurred before the planned commencement time of 06:20 GMT.

Ghana's President President John Mahama has gone to see the injured in medical care.

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