Ghana marks 13th year of May 9 disaster
The foundations of Ghana football were shaken and the entire nation went dark on May 9, 200 when 127 spectators who left their various homes to witness a colourful league soccer action between the two most glamorous clubs in Ghana, Asante Kotoko and Accra Hearts of Oak were crushed to death.
Advertisement
It was the worst stadium disaster on the African continent resulting from a multiple of causes at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Football, which is supposed to unite people, turned out to rather disunite and succeeded in bringing tears and agony to the entire populace of Ghana.
The big question one would ask himself is: Do people learn from the mistakes of others?
The Accra Sports Stadium Disaster happened exactly 30 days after the Ellis Park Stadium Disaster in South Africa, which wiped out 43 spectators who thronged to watch the Johannesburg derby between Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs.
This, apparently, has been the worst stadium disaster in South Africa. However, by far, the Hearts-Kotoko league game disaster ranks not only the worst in Ghana, but also in Africa.
In the said game, Kotoko shot ahead through a brilliant 60th minute goal by Lawrence Adjei, whose 25-metre shot slipped through the hands of goalkeeper Sammy Adjei.
But Hearts’ equaliser through Ishmael Addo in the 77th minute influenced the incorrigible fans to throw missiles into the stadium in protest against perceived injustice meted out to Kotoko by Cape Coast referee J. Wilson-Sey, for allowing Addo to equalise from what they judged to be an offside position.
Addo again fired the Phobians into the lead in the 81st minute to secure victory for the Hearts team, then affectionately called the 64 Battalion, for their fearsome nature.
At the end of the 90 minutes, the attention shifted from Ishmael Addo, whose two strikes snatched victory from the jaws of defeat for his side’s 2-1 victory, to the dead and injured fans.
The response to this crowd disturbance of missile-throwing by the fans was tear gas fired by the police into the crowd.
Panic ensued and the resulting stampede led to the deaths of 127 fans from asphyxiation – a condition characterised by severe deficient supply of oxygen to the body due to inability to breathe normally.
Aftermath of disaster
The then President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency John Agyekum Kuffour, set up an official inquiry (Presidential Commission) headed by Sam Okudjeto, a former President of the Ghana Bar Association.
The commission blamed the police for over-reacting with reckless behaviour and indiscriminate firing of plastic bullets and tear gas. It also accused some officers of dishonesty and indefensible laxity.
The report claimed that medical staff had already left the stadium, as the incident happened near the end of the match.
It also indicated that some gates were locked, thus preventing escape.
Flaw of report
It said little about the rowdyism of the fans which led to the firing of the tear gas, prompting accusations that the commission had conveniently overlooked the root cause of the tragedy.
Recommendation
The Sam Okudzeto Commission of inquiry recommended improvements to stadium security and first aid facilities, and that nationwide rapid response teams should be set up.
It also recommended that the structure of the Accra stadium should be changed to allow for large entrances and exits for free movement.
Six police officers were charged with 127 counts of manslaughter afterwards, but the court ruled that the prosecution had failed to make a case.
Steps taken by government to immortalise the lost souls and assist their loved ones:
Stadium Disaster Fund --- A stadium disaster fund was establish which yielded over GH¢300, 000. This resource was shared among the relatives of the deceased.
May 9 Stand --- The then Minister of Youth and Sports, Edward Osei-Kwaku, in 2002 inaugurated the refurbished popular stand where most of the 127 football fans perished. The stand, christened May 9 Stand, was rehabilitated at a cost of 235 million cedis.
May 9 Stadium Disaster Scholarship --- A scholarship scheme was put in place in 2003 to cater for the educational needs of children of the victims of the stadium disaster.