May 9 Disaster: 23 Years On, Ghana Remembers Tragic Loss

May 9, 2001, went down as a tragic moment in the history of the country’s football.

Two football gaints, Accra Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko clashed at the Ohene Djan Sports Stadium resulting in a chaotic situation that took the lives of many sports enthusiasts.

127 people were killed and over 200 were injured. The disaster was one of the worst in the history of African football.

23 years on, the memory of the day still remains clear as a bell with people in different ways. It is an annual reminder that never again should we reach that precipice in Ghanaian football.

Years after, the Accra Sports Stadium has had some renovation and improvements with a major uplift prior to the hosting of AFCON 2008. The upgrades included more exits to help fans leave the stadium in a rush without any issues if the need ever came up.

As part of remembering the fallen heroes, the football fraternity held a wreath-laying ceremony at the Accra Sports Stadium today.

With these lessons running, some football fans still engage in these distasteful acts of hooliganism.

The May 9 disaster is a reminder of the importance of safety at sporting events. It is also a reminder of the tragic consequences that can occur when violence breaks out.

With today marking the 23rd anniversary of the disaster, though the memory still remains in the heart of many, cautious attempts have been made to improve the game.