Ghana Football Association President Kurt Okraku, has lamented how the May 9, 2001 disaster has adversely impacted stadium attendance.
Speaking at the Accra Sports Stadium on Thursday morning, Okraku expressed his determination to improve match attendance in the country. He believes the disaster marked the beginning of a decline in fan presence at match venues.
“We have an opportunity to rectify a significant issue that arose from May 9. After that day, we lost the 12th man, and this has been a problem for football,” Kurt Okraku stated.
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During a ceremony commemorating the 127 lives tragically lost in the stampede at the Accra Sports Stadium, which resulted from crowd violence and mismanagement during a Ghana Premier League match between Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko, Okraku believes pragmatic steps must be taken to encourage fans to return to the stadiums.
“It is imperative that we all come together to implement practical measures aimed at winning back our 12th man,” he added.
While progress has been made, he emphasised the need for eternal vigilance to ensure such a dark cloud of tragedy never descends upon the nation’s football again.
For the lives so cruelly taken, may their spirits forever rest in peace. The memories of the departed burn bright, everlasting reminders of the sanctity of life and the importance of ensuring the safety of all sports fans.
