Government has extended its condolences to the families of the victims who perished at the 2001 May 9 disaster which occurred at the Accra Sports Stadium.<\/p>\n
[contextly_sidebar id=”B7uxrW9cmJTWpPNLmhFHJH9K7GV9Vld9″]A statement released from the Sports Ministry on Friday said: \u201cOn the eve of the commemoration of this sad event, the Minister for Youth and Sports, Maj. (Dr). Mustapha Ahmed (rtd) on behalf of His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, the sporting fraternity and the entire nation wish to extend their heart-felt condolences to the families of the victims and to wish them well.\u201d<\/p>\n
The statement added that as the nation commemorates the tragic event; citizens should \u201clet the lessons from the circumstances that led to this scar on the conscience of this nation guide us to collectively resolve that never again should such a tragedy befall this nation.\u201d<\/p>\n
The May 9 disaster claimed the lives of 127 football supporters who had gone to the stadium to watch the match between Ghana\u2019s two biggest clubs Kumasi Asante Kotoko and Accra Hearts of Oak.<\/p>\n
The incident occurred when some football fans began throwing objects onto the football pitch following an equalizing goal from Accra Hearts\u00a0of Oak.<\/p>\n
The action by the football spectators was to protest a supposed unfairness which was being exhibited by the referee from Cape Coast referee, J. Wilson-Sey.<\/p>\n
The Police who were at the stadium to ensure security responded by firing tear gas into the raging crowd which led to a stamped and the subsequent death of the 127 persons which hundreds of others sustained various degrees of injury.<\/p>\n
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By: Efua Idan Osam\/citifmonline.com\/Ghana
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