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Must Ghana wait for another disaster to hit the nation? � Or government is just interested in setting up committees to investigate why people died always?

Well, the nation is yet to put behind it the recent June 3 twin-disaster dubbed �Circle Horror� which led to the death of at least 160 commuters when Kwame Nkrumah Circle got flooded leading to a Goil Filling Station blowup.

Aftermath of the twin disaster, there have been several blame-games � the Accra mayor has been on the lips of many for bad city planning even though he is the �King of Mayors� globally.

Several committees have been set up to ascertain the main cause of the disaster that struck the city � but, Ghanaians are yet to know what actually caused the tragedy.

Before the recent flood-fire disaster, 127 lives also perished on May 9, 2001 � that occurred at the then Ohene Djan Stadium now Accra Sports Stadium. It was the worst ever disaster in Ghana and Africa at large.

It happened during a match between Ghana�s two most successful football teams, Accra Hearts of Oak Sporting Club and Asante Kotoko - trouble had been anticipated, and extra security measures had been taken.

The home side scored two late goals to defeat Kotoko 2�1 which led to disappointed Kotoko fans throwing plastic seats and bottles onto the pitch.

The response to this crowd disturbance from the police was to fire tear gas into the crowd - panic ensued and a resulting stampede led to the deaths from compressive suffocation of 127 people leading to their death.

The police was blamed for over-reacting with reckless behaviour and indiscriminate firing of plastic bullets and tear gas � as usual of any government, committees were set, relief funds launched but till date, affected surviving victims and those who lost breadwinners are still begging for arms.

The May 9 surviving victims have always complained bitterly to government for neglecting them but on record, former Kumasi Asante Kotoko Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Herbert Mensah has tremendously been of help to families of the disaster fatalities.


Disaster Alert

Strangely, we are in a nation where we always speak of disasters but then again we wait till it happens before we take precautionary measures.

The city of Ghana might be hit with another tragedy if our so-called �Nation�s Wembley� [Accra Sports Stadium] is not closed down for refurbishment.

The multi-purpose 40,000 all-seater stadium mostly used for football matches is now a deathtrap for soccer fanatics and revelers who use the facility.

As a designated venue for some of the 2008 African Cup of Nations matches, the stadium was rebuilt, upgraded and modernized to meet FIFA standards but seven years [7] after, it has never seen any maintenance by the National Sports Authority.

A tour at the magnificent edifice reveal that almost all metals erected there are rusting causing fear and panic to patrons.

Non-functioning gigantic scoreboard at Accra Sports Stadium just behind spectators is rapidly caving in.

With its slow but steady decay, the thicknesses of the steel keep reducing hence weakening its structural strength.

Again, the Osu Stand of the stadium is also very unsafe - people are likely to be killed if authorities turn a blind eye to calls for regular maintenance of the facility.

As the clich� goes �One-day-one-day� it is likely we might witness another committee being set up to investigate why people died at the Accra Sports Stadium � relief funds would be set up for victims with perhaps no accountability.

The blame-game will not be left out in media reportage � politicians will start playing �politricks� while sports pundits will definitely call for an unnecessary probe.

The earlier we close down our �Wembley� for refurbishment the better for us all as a nation � When we are speaking of disasters we must not wait till it happens!