May 9 stadium disaster victims remembered

May 14, 2011
Accra , May 14, GNA - President John Atta Mills on Saturday laid a wreath at the Memorial at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium in Accra to remember the 126 people who died in a stampede at the stadium 10 years ago.

He reminded organisers of sports events and security agencies not to compromise security at such events.

President Mills said the sporting public should also avoid engaging in acts that would mar the beauty of healthy sports contests and leave an aftermath of tragedies and sour tastes.

Two other wreaths were laid by Commodore E. N. Mensah, Board Chairman of Accra Hearts of Oak Football Club and Ms Mercy Smith, Board Member of Kumasi Asante Kotoko Football Club, the two teams who were engaged in a league match on that day, May 9, 2001.

Madam Meeri Ibrahim, a member of one of the bereaved families, laid a fourth wreath for fans who died in the stampede.

"We should remember only the sporting events and not tragedies that follow them," President Mills said, after laying the wreath.

The President spoke against acts of violence during sports events, stressing that there should be order and sense of oneness during such events so as not repeat the tragedy.

President Mills extended condolences to the bereaved families, sportsmen and women and all Ghanaians, and especially the Musical Chapter O, which lost the most members in the disaster.

Christian and Muslim prayers were said for the victims.

GNA