Herbert Mensah leads 25th commemoration of May 9 Disaster in Kumasi

Former Asante Kotoko Board Chairman, Herbert Mensah, is set to spearhead activities marking the 25th anniversary of the May 9 Stadium Disaster in Kumasi this week.

The tragic incident, widely regarded as Africa’s deadliest stadium disaster, occurred on May 9, 2001, at the Accra Sports Stadium during a league match between Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko. A stampede claimed 126 lives, leaving a lasting impact on Ghana’s football history.

Ahead of this year’s commemoration, Mensah revealed that between 100 and 200 people will travel from Accra to Kumasi to participate in the remembrance events.

Activities begin on Friday with prayers at the mosque led by Chief Imam Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, alongside traditional leaders and other public figures. A major gathering is expected on Saturday, with large crowds anticipated. International attention is also building, with the BBC producing a documentary on the tragedy.

“It’s something we've been doing for 25 years, so it will be a repetition of what we do, except more families will be involved. We have some guests from overseas who will be involved. The BBC are running a whole documentary on it this week,” Mensah told Luv FM.

Even after two and a half decades, he says key questions around investigations, justice, and stadium safety reforms remain unresolved and continue to shape national reflection.

“There is a lot of interest over the 25-year period as to what Ghana’s position is. How did we handle the investigations? Was a sense of justice and closure brought? What infrastructure changes were brought? It’s a constant assessment. There’s no full stop,” he said.

Mensah also pointed to continued concerns about crowd control at sporting events, referencing recent incidents that suggest lessons are still being learned.

“When you have situations like what happened with Pooley last year, then it saddens people that people still cannot control themselves in stadiums, but the world has moved on in 25 years,” he added.

He further highlighted the human toll of the disaster, sharing accounts of families still living with its aftermath. These include widows and children who have grown up without their parents, some of whom are now adults seeking support.

“I know Rani in Accra, a Hearts of Oak supporter. She lost her husband. She was a teenager at that time, so she’s still young today. A son who never saw his father just graduated, and they are looking for some form of assistance, which we will hopefully be able to provide,” he said.

Mensah added that many affected families remain in close contact with organisers as they continue to receive support.

Beyond remembrance, the initiative has also expanded into humanitarian work. Mensah, who serves as secretary of the Shen Yang and Shen Yuet Children’s Heart Foundation, noted that the organisation has funded life-saving heart surgeries for more than 110 children at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital over the past 15 months, offering critical support to families facing congenital heart conditions.