Deputy Minister blames sportswriters for stadium disaster

Mr Joe Aggrey, Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports has blamed sportswriters for the May 9 Accra Sports Stadium disaster which claimed 126 lives.
Speaking at a one-day clinic organised by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) for sports journalists on Thursday, the Deputy Minister said the disaster was the culmination of the tension-spiced hype the match received from the media.

He advised participants to dispense with club affiliations in the discharge of their duties and make objectivity their guiding principle because of the power of believability and influence their reports have among the ordinary citizenry.

"Fanatism by sport journalists should be thrown overboard since we are above the ordinary and what we say or write influences supporters of the clubs to take certain actions."

He asked them to "be very professional about their work and contribute positively to the development of the game."

Mr Aggrey praised the GFA for organising the clinic to update the knowledge of journalists on the rules of the game because proper interpretation by them would help calm nerves and reduce controversies which fan hooliganism.
The Deputy Minister tasked sportswriters to work hard and make useful suggestions, which would ensure that the Black Stars qualify for the 2006 World Cup in Germany
He castigated them for sacrificing other sports for football and urged them to change their attitude in this direction.
Until his appointment as the Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Joe Aggrey was the president of the Sportswriters Association of Ghana.