Soccer News of Friday, 10 May 2002

Source: GNA

May 9 Stand Commissioned

Minister of Youth and Sport, Edward Osei-Kwaku has commissioned the refurbished popular stand where most of the 126 football fans perished last year. The stand, which has been christened ?May 9 Stand? was rehabilitated at a cost of 235 million cedis. At a brief ceremony after a Commemorative Inter-Faith Memorial Service in honour of the deceased, Mr. Osei-Kwaku said the North Stand where most of the victims sat on that fateful day was refurbished upon the recommendations of the Okudzeto Commission that investigated the incident.

According to the Minister, 200 million cedis was spent on the reconstruction of six entrances to the stand, while 35 million cedis was used to replace seats which were destroyed during the stampede, which followed the firing of tear gas into the stands.

Mr Osei Kweku said 136 million cedis is also being invested in a monument in front of the main gate of the stadium in honour of the victims. The names of the deceased would be inscribed on the monument. The monument will portray a person carrying another person in pain behind him with the inscription: "Gbomo nyemi dzi gbomo" in the Ga language that literally translates "We are our brother's keeper".