A section of the marchers. They include Tony Baffoe, Herbert Mensah, Ernst Middendorp and Greg James of the JAG Education and Sports Foundation, a British national based in South Africa, who joined in the commemoration
Audio Attachment Listen to Herbert express misgivings about how the day has been neglected officially
Hundreds of tear-filled football lovers – fans, administrators, ex-players and victims – participated in a street march to mark Ghana football’s darkest history, the May 9, 2001 Stadium Disaster that wasted 126 souls.
On that sad day, a league game between Ghana’s two glamorous club sides, Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak, ended as usual, in dispute. However the aftermath of fan violence and subsequent security inadequacies led to the loss of the precious lives and destruction of property.
Leading the remembrance march were former Asante Kotoko Chairman and CEO, Herbert Mensah, during whose tenure the sad event occurred; German trainer Ernst Middendorp, then Kotoko coach; ex-Black Stars’ defensive pillar, Tony Baffoe; Alhaji Braimah Suleman, aka Alhaji Hearts, representing Accra Hearts of Oak; Nana Kwame Dankwah, PRO & Media Committee Chairman of Kotoko’s Greater Accra Circles Council; Neil Mortagbe Armstrong, Chairman of Accra Hearts of Oak’s National Chapters Committee and the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the National Sports Council, Charles Aryeh.
Of course there were families of the victims, and among them seven-year-old Bernard Frimpong, then only weeks-old when his father, Stephen Darko Tawiah, perished along with the others. Bernard marked his father’s memorial with his siblings Emmanuel Frimpong, 12 and Stephen Frimpong, 9, as well as their mother, Vida Ayisi.
The near four-hour walk started from the Nima Junction off the Ring Road, through the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, through Tudu, the Ministries and ended up at the entrance of the Ohene Djan Stadium, where brief ceremonies and statements at the commemorative cenotaph saw many shed tears uncontrollably.
For Herbert Mensah, the events of that day should be a constant reminder to officialdom to make adequate provisions for football fans, who he described as the ‘real heroes’ of the game.
He said football fans who have often borne the brunt of decisions on and off the field of play, have often been relegated to the background when policies are formulated and prayed that Ghana has learnt bitter lessons with the events of May 9, 2001, to make real progress in advancing the game.
He decried official apathy towards the day and said it deserves a proper observance.
Never again
Many were those who shed tears as events of the tragic day were retold. Seven year old Bernard Frimpong, right, lost his father to the tragic incident.
Mr Charles Aryeh said May 9 has indeed taught the entire nation great and bitter lessons, some of which informed the construction of Ghana’s new stadia with adequate exits.
He also prayed that the sad day will never again be visited on the nation.
Ernst Middendorp told Myjoyonline that he flew in specifically to be part of the occasion “because the events, since 2001, have always played back in my memory and I’ve found it a duty at all times to prompt people about the effects of violence and its management.”
“You cannot forget about it, never. In Germany, in South Africa and in Iran where I worked, I was quick to point out to authorities to prepare adequately whenever I see huge crowds at the stadiums. It is sad but I remember everything everyday.”
Alhaji Hearts and Nana Kwame in speeches, urged all football followers to resolve never to allow the tragic event hit Ghana football again.
Accra Hearts of Oak’s supporting wing, Chapter ‘O’, known for their music, sang to the memory of the fallen heroes of the tragedy.
Mr. Mensah later donated 100 bags of rice and several gallons of cooking oil to be given to the families of the victims. He had earlier in the week led a visitation to Kumasi to visit families of some of the victims where he equally donated cash and food items.
