A series of activities and events have taken place in Kumasi, the Ashanti Regional capital in remembrance of the Accra stadium disaster that claimed the lives of an estimated 126 fans during a football match between Accra Hearts Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko in 2001. This year will mark the 11th remembrance of a dark and bloody tragedy in Ghana.
Former Asante Kotoko Chief Executive and businessman, Herbert Mensah, is urging corporate Ghana to look to sports for investment because it offers real business opportunities.
“If as a nation, we understand that the majority of us are more powerful than the few who move around in the corridors of higher power, then we can make those same people more accountable for their actions, then we can ensure that this sort of thing never happens”.
Herbert Mensah
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Herbert Mensah’s feelings and thoughts on May 9, 2001 on audio.
Herbert Mensah has called on all stakeholders in the management of football in Ghana to pool their resources to rid the game of needless disasters.
Mr. Mensah said contrary to the perception that May 9 had thought us lessons the events of February this year which saw four people die at the Baba Yara stadium due to overcrowding should be a wake up call.
Presentation of foodstuf to families of the 9 May 2001 stadium disaster victims in Kumasi on behalf of Herbert Mensah.
Former Kumasi Asante Kotoko boss Herbert Mensah has called on all stakeholders in the management of football in Ghana to pool their resources to rid the game of needless disasters.
Mensah said contrary to the perception that May 9 had thought us lessons the events of February this year which saw four people die at the Baba Yara stadium due to overcrowding should be a wake up call.
The JAG Foundation team also joined Herbert at the Accra Mosque for prayers. Some of the images follows.
Herbert Mensah reflects on the May 9th disaster in the Accra Mosque.
The JAG Sports & Education Foundation from South Africa joined Herbert on a Peace Walk on the 9th of May 2008. Here are some of the images from the walk.
Herbert Mensah with Greg James, the founder of Jag, and Gerhardi Odendaal of JAG at the May 9th memorial in Accra, Ghana.
Herbert Mensah 