GFA President issues statement to commemorate May 9 stadium disaster

President of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), Kurt Okraku has today, May 9, 2024 issued a statement
to commemorate Ghana’s excruciating stadium disaster which happened in 2001 during a match between Accra Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko at the Accra Sports Stadium.

He said these commemorative events serve as constant reminders that continuing efforts to rid Ghana Football of hooliganism and make our stadiums safe is “the biggest tribute we can pay to those who unfortunately died and those who were scarred by the events of May 9, 2021.”

He further noted that as we commemorate that day, the FA’s thoughts and prayers remain with all who were affected by the May 9 Disaster.

Read the full statement below

Twenty-three years ago, on May 9, 2001, thousands of vibrant men and women converged at the Accra Sports Stadium to witness the nation’s biggest local league fixture – Accra Hearts of Oak versus Kumasi Asante Kotoko.

Twenty – three years ago, millions of football enthusiasts sat glued to their television sets watching in horror as barely a few minutes after that absorbing contest ended, news of rising deaths from a stampede at the stadium started filtering through. At the last official count, one 127 football fans were reported to have lost their lives in what came to be known as the May 9 Disaster.

Year in, year out, the football fraternity and its friends huddle together to honour the memory of the dearly departed and to share strength with the families they left behind and those who sustained injuries on that dark day in Ghana’s football history.

For us, at the Ghana Football Association, these commemorative events serve as constant reminders that our continuing efforts to rid Ghana Football of hooliganism and make our stadiums safe is the biggest tribute we can pay to those who unfortunately died and those who were scarred by the events of May 9th, 2021. Their sacrifice will be meaningless if we relent in this endeavour.

As we commemorate that day, our thoughts and prayers remain with all who were affected by the May 9 Disaster. We pray for continuing comfort for us all as we remain resolute in our faith in the Almighty.

May the souls of our dearly departed brothers and sisters continue to rest in perfect peace.

May God bless and protect us all.