As Ghanaians commemorate the 11th May 9 anniversary today, a facebook remembrance page has been launched.
The Facebook Page titled ³May 9th Remembered² was initiated by former Kotoko Chairman, Herbert Mensah, with constructive and significant inputs from Rian Malan and Yussif Mustapha to ensure that the lessons learned in the tragedy is never forgotten.
³Remembering May 9th and the lessons learned from this tragedy should continue for generations to come. Such a remembrance should remind all parties involved to not repeat the mistakes made on a day when 126 young lives were ended so abruptly and horrendously,² Herbert Mensah said.
Speaking to the media shortly after a walk in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region to commemorate the day, Herbert Mensah opined that supporters are extremely important when it comes to football, and so, ³if somebody loses his life through football, it is important that we remember and we give respect.²
³You saw the happiness on the family¹s faces, the sense of appreciation for what we did. You saw children who were in their mum¹s pregnant tummies on May 9 2001 and today they are 11 years old? I think it is something special to see².
To Herbert Mensah, the greatest mistake that will be made is for the nation to forget its fallen heroes, hence the establishment of the page, and he says, ³hopefully, we will achieve our goal of making people remember our heroes who are gone².
³We are ensuring that the flame does not die; we are not fighting or competing with government², he added.
Herbert Mensah, who has single-handedly organized events and donated food and other items to May 9 victims annually during the last 11 years is hopeful the good deeds will continue.
³This is not about me; a number of people on the ground have been in the forefront? whether I am here or not, this will go on. And so whether I am here or not, this will continue in the minds of many people year in year out².
Aside the facebook page, Herbert Mensah revealed that the creation of a draft E-book is underway to serve same purpose.
The May 9th Remembered page is accessible to all Facebook account holders and contains numerous links to references about the disaster on the Internet. It will also serve as forum for discussion of issues relating to crowd behavior and control, event management and administration, security, football administration and corruption to name a few.
Story by Abena Asiedua Tenkorang/ Xfm 95.1/ Accra/ Ghana
