GFA marks May 9 disaster anniversary with fresh call for Stadium safety
The General Secretary of the Ghana Football Association, Prosperr Harrison Addo, has called for renewed commitment to safety, discipline and improved crowd control in Ghanaian football as the country marked the 25th anniversary of the May 9 stadium disaster.
Speaking during a solemn memorial ceremony at the Accra Sports Stadium on Saturday, Addo joined government officials, football club representatives and grieving families to honour the 127 supporters who lost their lives in one of Africa’s worst football tragedies.
The victims died during a Ghana Premier League match between fierce rivals Accra Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko on 9 May 2001 after crowd disturbances led to a fatal stampede at the stadium.
“Twenty-five years on, we honour the memory of our fallen football faithful whose passion for the game led them to an unexpected end,” Addo said during the wreath-laying ceremony.
He described the anniversary as a reminder of the painful lessons from the tragedy and stressed the need to continue building a safer environment for football supporters across the country.
According to the GFA General Secretary, stakeholders must move beyond annual remembrance ceremonies and focus on practical reforms that improve safety at match venues.
“We continue to stand with the families and must apply the lessons learned to improve our football,” he added.
Addo noted that enhancing stadium infrastructure, strengthening security arrangements and improving crowd management remain key priorities for the football association.
The commemorative event ended with renewed appeals for fans to embrace sportsmanship and peaceful support during matches, with speakers insisting that the events of May 9, 2001 must never be repeated in Ghanaian football.
The May 9 disaster remains a defining moment in Ghana’s sporting history and continues to shape conversations around stadium safety and fan behaviour across the country.
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