Today, Tuesday, May 9, 2023, marks exactly 22 years of horrifying moments in Ghana’s sporting history as one hundred and twenty-seven (127) football fans lost their lives in a stampede at the Accra Sports Stadium.
The sad event which took place during a league match between giants Accra Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko on Wednesday, May 9, 2001, has been recorded in history as Africa’s worst football tragedy and remains the darkest day in the history of Ghana football.
Hundreds of Spectators managed to escape the tragedy whilst a number of them sustained varied degrees of injuries in an attempt to flee from dangerous tear gas canisters that were fired at them by the Police.
Since that catastrophe, Ghana’s Football Association (GFA) has drawn valuable lessons from the unfortunate event. The FA has to this effect instituted measures including public safety and effective crowd control to forestall any future occurrence. The sad event is commemorated each year to pay respect to those who lost their lives.
Meanwhile, bereaved families have benefited from compensation packages from the government through Fund Managers. To cater for surviving victims and the families of those who lost their lives, former Asante Kotoko Football Club Chairman, Herbert Mensah, founded a philanthropic organization known as the May 9 Foundation.
Herbert Mensah praises President Nana Akufo Addo
Today, Tuesday, May 9, 2023, Herbert Mensah showered praises on President Nana Akufo Addo for being the first President in 22 years to recognize families of the victims of the Accra stadium disaster.
The President of the May 9 Foundation was speaking in a video message to mark the 22nd anniversary of the historic soccer tragedy that occurred under his watch as chairman of Asante Kotoko football club in 2001.
“We shouldn’t forget last year our Prez for the first time welcomed families of May 9 victims to the jubilee house. It is the first time any President of Ghana has ever done that since 2001 and we are truly grateful for that”.
Herbert Mensah
Herbert Mensah noted that the President’s gesture will be remembered forever, adding that “there were tears in the eyes of the families of the victims, knowing that at least a little bit of respect and recognition has been given and they will always be grateful for what his excellency, the President did for them”.
In his anniversary statement, Herbert Mensah also recognized the contributions of others including the Asantehene Otumfuor Osei Tutu who for several years has granted audience to the families of the victims of the Accra stadium disaster.
“Although we couldn’t see my father Otumfuor this year because he is out of the country, we are grateful to him for the audience he has granted us for many years but we were happy to have Nana Yaw Amponsah, the current Kotoko C.E.O and sports journalist, Patrick Osei Agyeman also known as Fireman join us in Kumasi for our remembrance walk”.
Herbert Mensah
President assured victims of Government’s support
During the 20th anniversary of the sad event, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo assured the Foundation of Government’s support for its public-spirited activities.
President Akufo-Addo said the government stood committed to offering the needed support to the Foundation to enable it carry out its activities and campaign to ensure that the unfortunate incident did not reoccur. “You will have the modest support that this administration will be able to give you. I can promise you that”, the President assured.
The President commended the founding members of the Foundation for keeping alive the memory of the victims of the disaster and engaging in other philanthropic activities to ensure that surviving family members of victims could look to the future with hope.
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