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No fewer than six individuals have lost their lives amid a stampede at a military recruitment gathering held in a stadium in the West African nation.

The midweek "tragic" event seems to have been caused by "an unexpected surge of applicants who breached security protocols and rushed into the gates," announced a release from the nation's military.

22 others were injured, among them 5 who are in serious state.

Thousands had turned up at El-Wak stadium, in the capital, Accra, with the aspiration of joining the military.

Ghana has a youth unemployment rate of approximately thirty-two percent, the most recent official data show, and such recruitment events typically draw large crowds and frequently result in disorderly situations.

The deadline to submit applications for this recruitment was extended by a week to accommodate more applicants, as a number had experienced difficulties in the process.

Military representative Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin said the stampede took place before the planned commencement time of 6:20 AM Greenwich Mean Time.

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

Order has been reestablished, and the recruitment exercise has since started.