Isaac Kwame Asiamah
Youth and Sports Minister, Isaac Kwame Asiamah has charged club owners in the country to accord fans the respect and protection they deserve.
To the Minister, sports is incomplete without fans, and has as a result called on club owners to consider them as primary stakeholders.
He said during the 17th May 9 Disaster ceremony on Wednesday that “Time has come for football clubs in the country to see fans as the most treasured primary stakeholders in the game and give them all the protection needed to inspire them to keep patronizing.”
“May 9th has left a blot on our individual conscience and our national psyche and never again should we allow such avoidable occurrence to revisit us on this blessed land of our birth.”
He added “Today as a nation, Ghana must stand up and proclaim that, the beautiful game must be the winner at no cost to the followers of the game whose contribution makes the cycle of joy complete.
The Minister expressed condolence on behalf of government and people of Ghana, to the bereaved families saying, “May 9 has come and gone, we as a nation must be strong and learn the lessons of these happenings to avoid a repetition of history.
Acting Director General of National Sports Authority (NSA) Majeed Bawa also graced the event.
Hearts scored two late goals against Kotoko to make it 2–1, which led to disappointed Kotoko fans throwing plastic seats and bottles onto the pitch in a midweek clash.
Police officers at the time responded to the crowd disturbance with tear gas and panic ensued, resulting in a stampede that led to the death of about 130 fans.
By Kofi Owusu Aduonum