Sallahfest disaster: 9 Victims buried

It was a mixed feeling of anger and sorrow for most of the family members of those who perished in a dawn stampede at the Asawasi Community Centre in Kumasi.

The family members tried hard to hold back their tears after they had identified the bodies of their relatives at the community centre, where the bodies had been sent for a prayer to be said for them before burial.

All the nine deceased people have since been buried at the Tafo Cemetery.

Mourners who besieged the venue, according to some eyewitnesses, were more than the revellers who had thronged the venue the previous night for an evening jam.

Nine people lost their lives in the disaster, which has been tagged the Sallahfest Stampede, following a misunderstanding between two Muslim groups over the right to host a jam at the centre on Wednesday.

The incident occurred between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. yesterday when people from the community had gathered at the centre to celebrate this year’s Eid-ul-Fitr.

The nine were caught up in a stampede after the patrons tried to escape from the venue for fear of an imminent clash as a result of the misunderstanding.

Their fear was worsened when someone switched off power from the main switch, plunging the place into thick darkness.

The problem was compounded by the narrow nature of the only exit point, thereby making it difficult for the patrons to escape. 

The two groups which had converged on the centre for a musical concert were simultaneously playing music, making it difficult for patrons to enjoy the tunes.

The injured, who were rushed to the Manhyia District Hospital, have since been treated and discharged.

Eyewitness

Mr Charles Amoah Boateng, who claimed to be there when the disaster struck, said when the power went off, everyone was rushing to get out of the place.

“We all got trapped at the entrance, with everyone struggling to get out. Everything came to a standstill, as no one was moving.

“I could feel someone biting me, while others were pulling me, all in an attempt to get out of the place. The heat was unbearable,” he said.

Another witness, who gave his name only as Ibrahim, said he did not know how he got out.

 “I was not aware of any problem. When the light went off, I heard people screaming and rushing towards the exit and I also followed and struggled to get out.”

Autopsy

The Administrator of the Manhyia District Hospital, Mr Samuel Dodzi, confirmed to the Daily Graphic that autopsy on all the bodies had been concluded and the bodies released to the Muslim community leaders for burial.

He said all the dead had been identified, but he could not tell if all of them were Muslims.

The dead are Mariam Alhassan, Bintu Abukari Baba, 22; Bani Kusu, 18; Ibrahim Baba, 42; Lawyer; Sumaya, Mariam Ibrahim, 22; Latifa Zakari, 22, and Abdul Mohammed.

Injured

He said the injured had since been treated and discharged

The injured are Rashida Hassan, 22; Iddrissu Sumaya, 16; Mariam Yakubu, 18; Ibrahim Barikisu 14; Karim Murtala, 16, and Charles Asamoah, 21.

Police

The acting Manhyia Divisional Police Commander, Superintendent of Police, Rev. Samuel Nyamekye Adane-Ameyaw, who confirmed the incident to the Daily Graphic, said the police were yet to make any arrest.

He said the police were also yet to get in touch with the managers of the centre to get the contacts of the organisers of the concert.

According to him, the police had no information on the said concert and as such they were unable to provide security at the venue.

Rev. Adane-Ameyaw said per the arrangement with the Asokore-Mampong Municipal Security Council, all programmes lined up for the celebration of the Eid-ul-Fitr were to end by 8 p.m.

However, he said even after 9 p.m. some of the youth who were having their usual procession which formed part of the Eid-ul-Fitr celebration refused to go home and had to be dispersed by the police.

Unknown to the police, he said, the group had regrouped at the community centre where they continued with the celebration.

He said it was during the celebration that a misunderstanding ensued, and in an attempt to prevent the problem from degenerating into a fight, someone decided to switch off the power.

The panic-stricken patrons started running for their dear lives, leading to the stampede which claimed nine lives, he said.