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At least 6 individuals have died amid a crowd crush at a military recruitment event held in a sports arena in Ghana.

The midweek "tragic" incident seems to have been caused by "a sudden rush of candidates who overcame security measures and stormed the gates," stated a release from the nation's military.

Twenty-two others were hurt, among them five who remain in critical condition.

A large crowd had gathered at the El-Wak sports venue, in the capital, Accra, with the aspiration of joining the armed forces.

Ghana has a rate of joblessness among young people of about thirty-two percent, the latest official data indicate, and such recruitment events normally attract massive gatherings and often result in chaotic scenes.

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

Army spokesperson Capt Veronica Adzo Arhin said the crush occurred ahead of the event's scheduled start of 06:20 GMT.

The nation's leader President John Mahama has gone to see the injured in hospital.

Order has been restored, and the enlistment process has now begun.