Ben Julius Emunah, a safety and security expert for the Confederation of African Football (CAF), attributes the decline in hooliganism and fan violence at various match venues to proper planning.
The May 9, 2001 incident that claimed the lives of 127 football fans at the Accra Sports Stadium can never be forgotten hence the fight to protect all stakeholders of the beautiful game.
While there are still occasional instances of fan misbehaviour at some domestic football venues, Emunah believes that over time, fans will come to understand the need for peace.
“Education has been key in helping fans understand that violence is not appreciated. With additional training, the police have also been able to handle spectators better, and from my vantage point, I believe we’ve done a decent job,” Emunah told 3Sports.
Very few cases of violence have been recorded this season with heavy punishments handed over to culprits. Emunah opines this together with well-prepared security measures put in place before matches has crippled hooliganism.
“At least now we have good planning for our games. We analyze our matches thoroughly from both the club’s perspective and the Ghana Police’s perspective. They understand the nature of the game they are anticipating because security is about anticipation, not reaction. If you wait until something happens before acting, you’ll make many mistakes,” he said.
The Ministry of Youth and Sports on Thursday held a solemn ceremony at the Accra Sports Stadium to commemorate the 23rd anniversary of the disaster.
The solemn gathering unfolded on the grounds where once tragedy struck, a touching reminder of the 127 lives tragically lost during that fateful league match between Accra Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko in 2001.
The commemorative ceremony served as a sombre yet crucial acknowledgement, underscoring the paramount importance of ensuring utmost safety measures within the realm of sports, lest such devastating events ever recur.
