Ghana Sports News and more

Two decades after 127 football fans perished and many others sustained varying degrees of injuries during a league clash between Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko at the Accra Sports Stadium, Mr. Mensah -- then CEO of Kotoko who personally got involved in the rescue process -- said the images of Africa football's worst tragedy still haunted him.

He said that watershed moment in Ghana sports must be a constant reminder of the dangers of hooliganism as well as the need for adequate medical, safety and security measures at sports events.

Mr. Mensah has commemorated the May 9 tragedy annually through peace marches along with football fans in Accra and in Kumasi, and the mobilisation of relief items, money and other forms of support for survivors of the incident and dependants of some of the victims. He says the families of those who lost their lives in the stampede must never be forgotten.

 “The smell of tear-gas is still in my nose, the sounds, and noise of people crying, the smell of the dead, carrying of the dead and encouraging people to be strong shall always be part of my life and never be forgotten,” he said in a statement to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the tragedy.

He expressed gratitude to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, and President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for their support in the 20th anniversary celebration of the disaster.

“May 9 is not about me, we should not forget the names of those who perished, it’s my duty to ensure that they are never forgotten, it must be all of our duty,” he noted.

He revealed that some survivors of the event were into charitable projects he had spearheaded to sustain them and their families both in Kumasi and Accra.