Thousands walk with Herbert Mensah in ‘May 9 Remembered’

The streets of Kumasi were overwhelmed on Saturday by patrons of the 2017 May 9 Remembered walk, annually organised by Mr Herbert Mensah, former chairman of Kumasi Asante Kotoko with support from friends since 2001.

Thousands of people in the Ashanti Regional capital and beyond took to the streets of Kumasi for the walk in remembrance of victims of the Accra Sports Stadium soccer disaster 16 years ago that resulted in the death of 126 football fans.

The fans are believed to have died from stampede that ensued after policemen on duty on the day fired several tear gas to stop rowdy supporters who were ripping off plastic chairs at the Ade Coker stand after the match.

The officers cited for manslaughter in the Okudzeto report were later freed by the court. Led by former chief executive officer of Kumasi Asante Kotoko, Mr Herbert Mensah and a host of others , the walk took participants through some principal streets of Kumasi and ended at the Kumasi Central Mosque.

Speaking in an interview with the media, Mr. Herbert Mensah commended the media for their support over the years. “We have done this for 16 years and it is because of the relevance of the day and the respect we have for the departed souls and we will continue to observe the day so long as God gives us life”, Mr. Mensah intimated. He urged for greater tolerance among soccer fans in the country during matches.

“The disaster should make football fans more careful, they should understand they are brothers and sisters off the field and they must exhibit the positive rage that comes with soccer”. He also appealed to the government and administrators of the game to invest into all sports to encourage patronage. Also taking part in the procession were a group of Ghana Rugby players as well as family members of victims of the May 9 stadium disaster.