The ceremony was commenced with a display of life saving equipment by the Ghana National Ambulance Service.Wreaths were later laid in honour of the victims by the Deputy.Minster for Youth and Sports,Hon. Evans Opoku Bobie,the Director General of the National Sports Authority(NSA)Prof.Peter Twumasi,General Secretary of GFA,Mr Prosper Addo, reps from Accra Hearts of Oaks and Kumasi Asante Kotoko football Clubs and some families of the victims.
The Director General of the National Sports Authority (NSA),Prof.Peter Twumasi in a brief remarks empathize that this event is celebrated annually in honour of the 127 lives lost 21years ago in a football match between Accra Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko to serve as a reminder to all Ghanaian to ensure that such incidents do not occur in the future.
He stated that, the NSA will ensure more exits are created in the stadium to control stampede.He also encouraged all clubs to educate their supporters to emulate good behaviour during all matches. He ended his remarks by commending the security agencies for their support.
The Deputy Minister for Youth and Sports speaking on behalf of the sector minister Hon.Mustapha Ussif acknowledged some incidents of indisciplines,assaults and fixing of matches which can fuel spectator agitations and therefore entreated that mechanisms are put in place to curb it.He again used the occasion to caution all stakeholders within the football fraternity that, the ministry and the NSA will engage the security agencies to sanction those found guilty of the mentioned malpractices to serve as deterrent to others .He also thanked the media and all who played a significant role to ensure Ghana qualifies for the World Cup and entreated all stakeholders to exhibit such behaviour in other categories of our local games.
Also speaking at the program, was the Local Organizing Committee (LOC )chairman,Mr Kweku Ofosu-Asare. He advised Ghanaians to take advantage of Ghana’s hosting of the 2023 African games which will stimulate job creation.He also mentioned that, the LOC will put in place all structures at our stadiums to meet international standards .He further engrave the indulgence of the security agencies to handle spectators with care.
The Board Chairman for NSA,Hon Seth Panwam on his part expressed his condolences and talked on the initiative of the E-ticketing as a way to manage crowd and control stampede.
Representative from the two clubs Accra Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko took turns to express their condolences.
Other dignitaries present were,The Secretary General of the GFA,Mr.Prosper Addo,the Osu Wulomor,Numo Nio Osekain III,Dep.Dg(Administration)Mr Majid Bawa,Custodian of the May 9th Foundation,Charles Annan.
Story :Marvelina Ayi-Bonte
Seth Amoako
NSA/PR
9/05/2022.