May 9 stadium disaster: “Let’s make it a point to end hooliganism” – Ghana FA boss Kurt Okraku
- Adamu Muftawu
- May 9
- 2 min read
Ghana was thrown into mourning on May 9, 2001, when over 127 lives were lost at the Accra Sports Stadium during a Ghana Premier League game between Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko.
The stadium disaster occurred when Hearts of Oak bagged two goals to beat rivals Asante Kotoko by 2-1 resulting in angry Kotoko fans ripping the seats. The police responded by firing tear gas into the crowd, causing a stampede in the process.
The horrific incident has been commemorated ever since and the 24th year remembrance was held on Friday May 9, 2025 at the Accra Sports Stadium.
Ghana FA President Kurt Okraku has called for a sustained national commitment to fan safety in football, stating that the most fitting tribute to the victims of the May 9 Stadium Disaster is to ensure that such a tragedy is never repeated.
Okraku spoke at the 24th anniversary remembrance ceremony: "The best way to honour those we lost is to ensure that it never happens again," he said. "Through enhanced infrastructure, robust regulations, and our renewed focus on fan safety, we are working hard to prevent a repeat of this tragic event."
A few months ago, the Ghana Premier League recorded another tragic incident when Kotoko supporter Francis Yaw Frimpong, better known as Pooley, was stabbed to death after a game between Asante Kotoko and the now defunct Nsoatreman.
Okraku was joined at the ceremony by members of the football fraternity, government officials, supporters' groups, and families of the victims, as the nation paused to reflect on the darkest day in Ghana’s football history.
