Former Asante Kotoko chairman Herbert Mensah has reflected on the enduring emotional toll the May 9 stadium disaster has had on his life.
Speaking on the 24th anniversary of the tragedy in Accra on Friday, Mr Mensah shared deeply personal memories of the events that unfolded on that fateful day in 2001 during a high-stakes match between rivals Asante Kotoko and Hearts of Oak at the Accra Sports Stadium.
The match ended in tragedy when police fired tear gas into the crowd in an attempt to control unrest, triggering a deadly stampede that claimed the lives of 127 spectators, marking the darkest day in Ghana’s football history.
“On a personal note, the impact on my life is immeasurable, it comes not with the incident itself, the terrible occurrence itself. The imagery of which I have spoken about on so many occasions, the evening, the rainfall, the smell of teargas, the look of anguish on the face of many,” Mr Mensah said.
“The confusion, the smell of anger, fear and annoyance, the emotions are just too many, the touch and feel of bodies alive, a touch and feel of bodies no more. The impact of me and those close to me is lasting,” he added.