The Accra Sport Stadium disaster occurred at the Ohene Djan Stadium in Accra, Ghana, on 9 May 2001. It killed 126 people, making it the worst stadium disaster to have ever taken place in Africa.[1][2] It is also the third-deadliest disaster in the history of association football behind the Estadio Nacional and Kanjuruhan Stadium disasters.[3]
| Date | 9 May 2001 |
|---|---|
| Location | Accra, Ghana |
| Cause | Police fired tear gas into the crowd, resulting in a stampede and crush |
| Deaths | 126 |
Event
editGhana's two most successful football teams, Accra Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko, played a match at Hearts of Oak's home turf, the Accra Sports Stadium, on 9 May 2001. Anticipating crowd disturbances, authorities had implemented extra security measures—including stationing riot-control police officers at the stadium. Accra scored two late goals, and a referee called 2–1 Accra, resulting in disappointed Kotoko fans throwing plastic seats and bottles onto the pitch.[2][4][5][6]
Police present at scene responded by firing tear gas shells into the crowd. A panic and stampede ensued as fans tried to flee the irritant fumes. Many of the arena's gates had been locked and the stadium's compromised design left a bottleneck, with fewer exits than originally planned. The Ghana Institute of Architects called the stadium a "death trap." After the hour-long ordeal, it was found that 116 deaths resulted from compressive asphyxia and 10 fans died from trauma.[2][7][5][6]
A fan, Abdul Mohammed, had passed out from the tear gas and was moved to a morgue, presumed dead. He regained consciousness after someone stepped on his foot, narrowly missing being buried alive.[5]
Reports claim that medical staff had left the stadium before the tragedy ensued, as it took place near the end of the match. Some gates were locked, preventing escape.[1][2][8][9][10]
In an interview with BBC News, the deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Joe Aggrey, described the event as a devastating one with piles of bodies on the floors of the stadium.[11][12]
Aftermath
editAn official inquiry blamed police for over-reacting with reckless behaviour and indiscriminate firing of plastic bullets and tear gas. It also accused some officers of dishonesty and indefensible laxity. Six police officers were charged with 127 counts of manslaughter. The court ruled that the prosecution had failed to make a case and that the asphyxia may have been caused by the stampede and not the tear gas.[6][13]
The commission of inquiry recommended improvements to stadium security and first aid facilities, and that nationwide rapid response teams should be set up.[13]
Accra Sports Stadium was renovated in 2007 according to FIFA standards. Politics may have deferred the National Sports Council's attention to the stadium and it was again in disrepair 15 years after the disaster.[6]
Memorial
editFollowing the event Ghana's president, John Agyekum Kufuor, called for three days of mourning. The Ghana Premier Football League suspended play for a month.[6] Since 2001, corporations and philanthropists, including Herbert Mensah, who was Asante Kotoko chairman from 1999 to 2003, have memorialized this tragedy with the Stadium Disaster Fund and a series of events in Kumasi.
The events include paying respects to families of victims and their 148 children, their invitation to the Otumfuo's birthday at Manhyia Palace, prayers in the local Central Mosque, donations to the needy, the laying of a memorial wreath and a memorial march called the "May 9th Remembered Street Walk." In 2016, an annual memorial "May 9th Cup" football competition was created.[2][5][14][15][16] Mensah has appealed to the government to memorialize that May 9, to no agreement.[17] In 2017, the memorial events were themed "Embrace the Day."[2]
A bronze statue was erected outside the stadium of a fan carrying another fan to safety with the inscription title "I Am My Brother's Keeper" in honor of the victims of the tragedy.[5][6]
Fans who attend matches at the stadium now chant "Never Again! Never Again!" to remind themselves of the day.[18]
Similar events
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Prosecution closes case on stadium disaster". Ghanaweb. 23 June 2003. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
- ^ a b c d e f Afanyi-Dadzie, Ebenezer (9 May 2017). "May 9 victims remembered 16-yrs on; Herbert Mensah urges discipline". Ghana News. Archived from the original on 9 May 2017. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
- ^ "Indonesian football tragedy was 'an accident waiting to happen' – experts". Deutsche Welle. Archived from the original on 3 October 2022. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
- ^ "Ghana mourns after football tragedy". BBC. 10 May 2001. Archived from the original on 14 March 2007. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
- ^ a b c d e "May 9 2001: When the beautiful game became ugly in Ghana - Goal.com". Goal.com. 9 May 2011. Archived from the original on 11 September 2017. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
- ^ a b c d e f "Fifteen Years After Africa's Deadliest Stadium Disaster, Not Much Has Changed". Vice. 27 April 2016. Archived from the original on 11 September 2017. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
- ^ "Ghana mourns after football tragedy". BBC. 10 May 2001. Archived from the original on 14 March 2007. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
- ^ "Investigate the murder of the Ya Na -NDC". Ghanaweb. 7 August 2003. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
- ^ "Death toll rises to 126 in Ghana soccer stampede". USA Today. Associated Press. 19 June 2001. Archived from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
- ^ "125 killed in Ghana soccer crush". CNN. 10 May 2001. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 6 June 2015.
- ^ "Ghana mourns after football tragedy". 10 May 2001. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
- ^ "Ghana Mourns After Soccer Tragedy". ABC News. Archived from the original on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 8 August 2021.
- ^ a b "Ghana tragedy: Police to blame". BBC. 29 July 2001. Archived from the original on 11 March 2014. Retrieved 2 August 2012.
- ^ Osei, S.K. "May 9 Disaster: Herbert Mensah fires politicians for neglect, 16 years on". Archived from the original on 11 September 2017. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
- ^ "Herbert Mensah walks down May 9 memory lane for 16th time". 7 May 2017. Archived from the original on 11 September 2017. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
- ^ "Ghana marks 16th Anniversary of May 9 disaster". Archived from the original on 11 September 2017. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
- ^ Afanyi-Dadzie, Ebenezer (3 June 2017). "Herbert Mensah consoles June 3 victims". Ghana News. Archived from the original on 11 September 2017. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
- ^ "May 9th Stadium Disaster- 16 years on". social_image. Archived from the original on 11 September 2017. Retrieved 10 September 2017.