Accra Sports Stadium hosts a solemn remembrance event for May 9 stadium disaster victims

The Ministry of Youth and Sports, in partnership with the National Sports Authority, convened a solemn remembrance at the Accra Sports Stadium on Thursday, May 9, 2024.

The event honored the 127 lives tragically lost in the stampede during a match between fierce rivals Accra Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko in 2001.

Addressing attendees, Minister for Youth and Sports, Hon. Mustapha Ussif, urged stakeholders to intensify efforts in educating supporters to shun behaviors that could incite chaos and hostility during matches. He disclosed ongoing discussions with partners to establish an insurance scheme aimed at safeguarding fans in case of future emergencies.

Emphasizing the government’s commitment to fan security, Ussif condemned hooliganism and urged compliance with safety protocols. He commended stakeholders for maintaining fan safety since the tragedy but called for sustained efforts to eradicate hooliganism from sports, particularly football, through enhanced education.

The commemorative event served as a somber reminder of the importance of fan safety and the collective responsibility to prevent similar tragedies in the future.