“Victims of May 9 are being catered for”

Mr John Sackah Addo, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the May 9 Disaster Fund has confirmed that dependants of the victims of the stadium disaster are being catered for by the Board.

This is in contrast to reports that dependants of the victims have been neglected and are not being catered for by the Trust as indicated.

One hundred and twenty-six (126) fans died with several scores of football fans injured during a Premier League match involving Accra Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko on May 9, 2001.

Mr Addo who said this at the press launch of the 10th anniversary of the May 9 Stadium Disaster, added that his outfit has provided financial support to relatives of the victims in the aftermath of the ‘darkest day’ in Ghana football.

He explained that the Trust received an equivalent of GH¢320,000 as donations from individuals and corporate organizations, and have channeled the resources for the 148 children of the deceased.

Mr Addo, Chairman of the Prudential Bank Ghana Limited said they are mandated to cater for the children of the deceased till up to the Senior High School level.

“But we have gone out of our way to ensure support for four of the children up to the University level.”

The veteran banker said that there have been no problems with the dependents of the victims in the discharge of their duties ever since.

“We will continue to cater for all the children till they have completed their courses.”

Mr Addo has also described the 10th anniversary as unique in the sense that it is the first time that his outfit and the Ministry are together planning an event for the commemoration.

He urged all to desist from acts that may give birth to such occurrences in future.

Hearts of Oak will engage Asante Kotoko on May 14 in a friendly at the Ohene Djan Stadium, Accra to commemorate the anniversary celebrations.

Source: GNA