May 9 2025: Hole in Heart survivors join May 9 anniversary walk

On Friday, children who survived heart surgeries joined a large crowd in Kumasi. They were there to mark the 24th anniversary of the Accra stadium stampede from May 9, 2001.

These children are part of many Ghanaian kids who received surgeries. Their operations were funded by the Shen Yang & Shen Yuet Children’s Heart Foundation over the past two years.

The foundation plans to fund at least 20 surgeries each year. These will be for children with congenital heart defects at the National Cardiothoracic Centre (NCTC) in Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital.

Since its start in 2023, the foundation has financed over 81 surgeries at NCTC. Mr. YC Shen, Global Chairman of Sunda International Group, established it.

Herbert Mensah is the secretary of the foundation and a former Kotoko chairman. He also leads charity and memorial activities for the May 9 Foundation.

Mensah has helped families access support from the foundation. Some recovered children joined him and many others in Kumasi last Friday.

They walked to remember victims of the Accra Sports Stadium disaster. This tragedy claimed over 126 lives during a soccer match 24 years ago.

The disaster occurred when police fired tear gas at rowdy fans after a Hearts vs Kotoko match. Fans were ripping off plastic chairs at the Ade Coker stand when chaos erupted.

Herbert Mensah was chairman of Asante Kotoko during this tragic event. Since then, he has organized yearly remembrance walks and charity events to honor those lost.

This year’s walk included Gifty Pooley, wife of late Nana Pooley. He was an Asante Kotoko fan killed recently at a football match in Nsoatre.

“We have done this for 24 years,” said Herbert Mensah to reporters. “We respect the departed souls and will continue as long as we live.”

Mr. Mensah, now President of Rugby Africa, called for greater tolerance among soccer fans. This plea comes after recent violence led to Pooley's death.

“The tragedy should make football fans more careful,” he stated. “They must remember they are brothers and sisters off the field.”

He also urged government officials to invest more in all sports, especially those that receive less funding.