Ghana’s Minister for Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams, has called on football fans, players, club officials, and all stakeholders within the sporting fraternity to uphold discipline and promote peace as the nation marks the 25th anniversary of the tragic May 9 Stadium Disaster.

The Minister made the appeal while reflecting on one of the darkest moments in Ghana’s sporting history — the May 9, 2001 tragedy at the Accra Sports Stadium, where 128 football fans lost their lives during a heated Ghana Premier League clash between fierce rivals Accra Hearts of Oak and Asante Kotoko SC.

According to the Minister, sports should serve as a unifying force that promotes entertainment, friendship, and national cohesion rather than becoming a source of violence and tragedy. He stressed that football, in particular, is meant to foster peace and excitement among supporters and should never be used as an avenue for chaos or the loss of human lives.

Kofi Adams urged supporters to exercise restraint and emotional control during matches, especially in moments of disagreement over officiating decisions. He emphasized that although fans and clubs may sometimes feel aggrieved by referees’ calls, violence can never be justified as a response.

The Minister stated that whenever there is dissatisfaction with decisions made during football matches, the appropriate and lawful procedures should be followed to seek redress instead of resorting to destructive behavior. He warned that acts of hooliganism, aggression, and disorder continue to threaten the progress and image of Ghanaian football.

He further appealed to referees and match officials to remain professional, fair, and vigilant in the discharge of their duties. According to him, officiating officials must make decisions carefully and responsibly to help reduce tension and prevent avoidable confrontations at various stadia across the country.

The May 9 disaster remains a painful reminder of the devastating consequences of crowd violence in sports. The tragedy occurred after crowd disturbances erupted during the match, leading to panic and a fatal stampede that claimed 128 lives and injured many others.

As Ghana commemorates the 25th anniversary of the disaster, the Sports Minister believes the occasion should not only honor the memory of the victims but also reinforce the need for discipline, tolerance, and improved safety measures within the country’s sporting environment.

He concluded by urging all stakeholders to work together to ensure that such a heartbreaking incident never happens again in Ghanaian football.

Kofi Adams stated that although some important lessons have been learnt from past incidents of football-related violence, there are still situations where supporters take the law into their own hands due to disagreements with referees’ decisions.

According to him, such reactions continue to threaten the peace and safety of the game. He therefore encouraged football fans, club administrators, and all stakeholders to exercise patience, tolerance, and restraint whenever controversial decisions are made by match officials.

He emphasised that disagreements in football are inevitable, but violence and disorder should never be used as a means of expressing frustration. Instead, supporters and clubs must rely on the appropriate channels and regulations within the sport to address their concerns.