13 years after May 9th Stadium Tragedy: Any lessons?

On a radio programme last year to discuss whether or not football fans and indeed the entire country have learnt any lesson, more than a decade after the May 9, 2001 Stadium Disaster; the conclusion was true yet pathetic. Panelists on the radio show – some very good ones – were unanimous in their opinion, that, Ghanaian football fans had learnt nothing from the horrific disaster that claimed 127 lives at the Accra Sports Stadium.

Today, as the country marks 13 years of what was easily the darkest day in Ghana football history, the same question will be asked again. Have we learnt anything worthy from that tragic event? With the litany of football-related violence, that have been seen at our stadiums from the last May 9 anniversary and throughout the last decade, my answer is no.

Our football authorities can talk so much about how well they have been committed to fighting the shameful acts of hooliganism. Numerous examples of how clubs including their officials have been sanctioned or punished for various acts of violence can be cited to back claims stemming hooliganism but to most critical and keen local football enthusiasts like me, again, the answer to that question will still be negative.

In my opinion, nothing has changed in our thoughts and attitudes; commitment and indeed the country’s resolve to shun the very acts that led to the needless deaths on May 9, 2001. It may be too harsh and unfair to describe league centres in Ghana as unsafe. Yet the fact that, the Ghana Football Association (GFA)’s Executive Committee, have in recent times been forced to close stadiums citing insecurity fully convinces me that our league centres are insecure.

That is sad commentary for a country like Ghana – a country that is known for many good things including football and in fact, a country that proudly sees football as its passion. This is the time for every stakeholder of the game in Ghana to wake up to the reality that, not much has been done to fight football-related violence.

No sane Ghanaian would wish that an incident of the magnitude of the May 9 Stadium disaster or even less recurs. However, the plain truth is that, the possibility of a recurrence is high, if the Police look on as brazen miscreants (I don’t call them football fans) but rather social misfits, invade league centres and unleash violence on state property and precious human lives.

It is depressing to recall that, from the last time the May 9 2001 tragedy was commemorated, not only have we seen coaches and players threatened with violence; police vehicles, team buses and sadly, police personnel including referees have additionally been assaulted. Properties running into thousands of Ghana cedis have equally been destroyed.

It is on record that, Referee Kwame Kyei who was mercilessly beaten at the Bordie Park in March this year (and died later) did not die as a result of the assault on him. But the mere fact that a referee can be subjected to such heartless assault does no good to the talk about whether any lesson has been learnt from the May 9 Stadium Tragedy.

The preceding assertion totally indicts the image of Ghana football and all who have the country’s football at heart must be sad! Today, government officials, FA authorities, Hearts and Kotoko representatives, supporters’ leaders, families of the 127 victims, the media, etc. will gather around the May 9 statute at the Accra stadium to commemorate the terrible event.

Sermons will be preached; admonitions will be given on why hooliganism ought to be eschewed; there will be donations for families of the victims and that will be the end. It will end there because, from the first May 9 anniversary till date, that is what the country has been doing.

We haven’t done enough to fight football violence. We have allowed football fans to continue to visiting their violence on state properties and precious human lives. That must end now. My appeal to the FA and the Police is that, proactive measures should be taken at identifying; arresting, prosecuting and where appropriate jailing football hooligans. Otherwise, Ghana will not make any headway in stemming football-related violence.