Ministry, stakeholders mark May 9 disaster
The Ministry of Youth and Sports, the National Sports Authority (NSA), the Ghana Football Association (GFA) and other major stakeholders marked the 19th anniversary of the May 9 Stadium Disaster at the May 9th Memorial Park at the Accra Sports Stadium last Saturday in remembrance of the 127 football fans who perished on that fateful ‘’Black Wednesday’’.
In what has become the nation’s worst football tragedy, 127 fans lost their lives with many injured after Accra Hearts of Oak beat bitter rivals, Kumasi Asante Kotoko 2-1 in a Ghana Premier League match at the Accra Sports Stadium on May 9, 2001.
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Accompanied by some representatives of Hearts and Kotoko at the commemorative ceremony, the Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Perry Okudzeto, who read a statement of behalf of the Youth and Sports Minister, Mr Isaac Asiamah, empathised with the bereaved families on behalf of the government and people of Ghana and reminded sports-loving Ghanaians that sports unites and does not disintegrate.
Lessons
“Many lessons have been drawn from the incident and has led to some major changes in our state sports facilities to prevent recurrence of this unfortunate disaster.
“The Accra, Baba Yara and Essipon stadia which are undergoing major renovations boast an increased number of widened gates with other enhanced safety features.
Tamale and Cape Coast stadia were built with an enhanced safety features to meet international standard,” the statement noted.
The statement noted that “like all social phenomena, it is beleaguered with anti-social vices such as hooliganism, cheating, drug abuse, violence, racial discrimination and vandalism that can make the game ugly.
Nevertheless, we should not allow the anti-social vices to overshadow the beauty and benefits derived from football competitions.”
Divine strength
“On behalf of the President of the Republic of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the Minister of Youth and Sports, Isaac Kwame Asiamah, GFA President Kurt E.S Okraku and the people of Ghana, we wish to extend our deepest condolence to the bereaved families and to ask for God’s guidance for them as we observe the 19th edition of the May 9 Stadium disaster,” Perry Okudzeto added.
Dignitaries present
Other dignitaries who graced the solemn occasion included the Board Chairman of the National Sports Authority, Kwadwo Baah Agyemang, the Chief Executive Officer of the NSA, Prof. Patrick Twumasi, the GFA General Secretary, Prosper Harrison Addo, Deputy General Secretary, Alex Asante, Communications Director, Henry Asante Twum and Sena Akoto-Ampaw, Head of the Competitions Department.
