May 2020 – The Official Website of the Ghana Rugby Football Union

May 9, 2020 Ghana Rugby / Herbert Mensah

Ghana Rugby helps May 9th Remembered Foundation to extend support

Accra, Ghana. 09 May 2020/ – The President of Ghana Rugby and Former Chairman of Kumasi Asante Kotoko, Mr Herbert Mensah, echoed the COVID-19 call for “Safety First” at the 19th commemoration anniversary of the tragic Accra Sports Stadium disaster that struck on 9 May 2001 in Accra, Ghana.

Due to restrictions imposed as a result of the 2020 novel Coronavirus, COVID-19, this year’s commemoration was limited to a small gathering of persons with disability who again received mobility aids donated by DESO.

DESO (Disabled Equipment Sent Overseas) is a UK based charity run by ‘Aunty Mavis’, a British-Ghanaian woman whose charity work in Ghana spans over 64 years.

A number of Ghana Rugby’s national men’s and women’s players, the Ghana Eagles, who wore Ghana Rugby branded face masks with the message, “PLAY YOUR PART. KEEP YOUR DISTANCE” helped with the logistics during the event.

At the occasion in Accra, Mensah said that not even the severe disruptions and restrictions of a virus must be allowed to prevent the remembrance of the tragic event on 9 May 2001 when one-hundred-and-twenty-six (126) young Ghanaians who had gone to the Accra Sports Stadium to watch the beautiful game of football lost their lives.

“For the past eighteen years, a group of us have marked May 9th by maintaining awareness of the events surrounding this tragedy as well as the families involved, including the issues of stadium safety and proper governance in Ghana. Safety of the football family was not given the proper priority then and we have to remind our sports administrators again and again that, “Safety first” is not only important but that it is a responsibility and duty,” Mensah said.

Mensah said that it is ironic that the 19th annual commemoration of the stadium disaster coincides with a time when the call for “safety first” tops the global agenda.

“In 2001 safety was not on the agenda, and 126 young football fans lost their lives needlessly. With the Coronavirus in the air, I again call for “safety first” and for all to heed the guidelines of wearing face masks and to keep up with maintaining social distances. If we all do not play our part in this regard we may see another tragedy of even greater proportions in Ghana,” Mensah said.

Mensah also said that the safety of players and the public in all aspects of sports administration will always be high on his agenda.

“The lesson of May 9, 2001, to me is that one can never neglect the duty of safety on or off-the-field. The loss of life is unacceptable when administrators do not fulfil their duty to prevent it. Ghana Rugby recently launched a programme, EagleWise, in cooperation with BokSmart of the South African Rugby Union that will focus on aspects of player safety and welfare. We have also embarked on an elaborate ‘STAY SAFE’ programme during the COVID-19 period that I hope would have helped to save lives, Mensah said.

The traditional events that earmark the awareness campaign of the “May 9th Remembered” movement that was initiated by Mensah will not take place in 2020. Since 2001 the Mensah-led campaign included a massive streetwalk in Kumasi, prayers at the Kumasi Central Mosque and visits to families of the deceased.

The events for 2020 included the welcome presentation of the DESO mobility aids to persons with disability as well as visits to selected families of the deceased, accompanied by parcels of foodstuff.

“I am again grateful to the companies who have again shown solidarity with the cause of May 9th Remembered by donating money to defray costs and/or foodstuff for families of the deceased. This year Interplast, Sunda International and GB Foods again played their part. Without their support, the flame of the cause of “May 9th Remembered” for due diligence when it comes to sports administration will be difficult if not impossible to keep burning,” Mensah said.

Mensah also said that the Movement will “make up” in 2021 for the limited remembrance events caused by COVID-19 this year.

About Ghana Rugby

Ghana Rugby is the official full member of both World Rugby (2017) and Rugby Africa in Ghana-West Africa and is responsible for the management and development of the Game Rugby Union in the country. The Union is governed by a Constitution and administers five KPAs (Key Performance Areas) namely: (1) Youth Development & Growth through the World Rugby “Get Into Rugby” Programme, (2) Women in Ghana Rugby, (3) Training & Education, (4) Domestic Competitions and (5) International Performance.

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May 5, 2020 Ghana Rugby / Herbert Mensah

Ghana and South Africa Sign Understanding on Rugby Player Welfare Cooperation

Accra, Ghana/Cape Town, South Africa. 05 May 2020

Ghana Rugby and the South Africa Rugby Union (SARU) signed a historical agreement whereby SARU approved the use of material from its BokSmart (www.BokSmart.com) player safety and welfare programme by Ghana Rugby as part of its own version of the programme, EagleWise.

According to the President of Ghana Rugby, Mr Herbert Mensah, the agreement is historical in the sense that Ghana will only be the second rugby union on the African continent that has separated player safety and welfare into a separately branded unit.

“The issue of player safety and welfare has in recent years become a major strategic focus of World Rugby and in fact of the rugby community globally. Rugby is a contact sport and loved because of that, but with that, there will always be the risk of possible injuries. It only makes good sense to ensure that everything possible is done to minimise those risks. The agreement with SARU is a huge leap forward for Ghana Rugby to do exactly that,” Mensah said.

Jurie Roux, CEO of SA Rugby congratulated Ghana Rugby on its decision to partner with the BokSmart programme in the interest of player safety.

The senior manager for rugby safety at SARU, Dr Wayne Viljoen, explained: “Rugby is about men, women, boys and girls who passionately embrace the joy of playing Rugby. It is the duty of those administering the game of Rugby to do all they can to ensure that these players can keep on enjoying their passion and participating in the game in the safest possible way. BokSmart, and therefore Ghana rugby’s EagleWise Programme, are important mechanisms to achieve that objective,” Viljoen said.

The license agreement gives Ghana Rugby the right to access, adapt, co-brand and distribute material developed by BokSmart subject to specified terms and conditions.

The BokSmart National Rugby Safety Programme – a joint rugby safety initiative between SA Rugby and the Chris Burger/Petro Jackson Players’ Fund – kicked off officially in South Africa in 2009.

The philosophy of the BokSmart Programme is summed up by the following statement, “Rugby safety is no accident. It is a decision. A commitment. Together, we can build a game of Rugby that delivers zero catastrophic injuries. In fact, we not only ‘can’ do it. We MUST do it.”

According to Board Member Rian Malan, who has been charged to spearhead the initial development and implementation of the Ghana Rugby EagleWise player safety and welfare programme, the enormous task at hand has been made easier with the signing of the agreement between SARU and Ghana rugby.

“BokSmart has developed into one of the most comprehensive player safety and welfare programmes internationally since its launch in 2009. A developing rugby union like Ghana Rugby just does not have the resources to start such an initiative from scratch. The access we now have to BokSmart material will go a long way in helping us to fulfil our duty,” Malan said.

About Ghana Rugby

*Mr Herbert Mensah, President and Board Chairman of Ghana Rugby. “It only makes good sense to ensure that everything possible is done to minimise the risks of contact sport.”*

*Jurie Roux, CEO of SA Rugby congratulated Ghana Rugby on its decision to partner with the BokSmart programme in the interest of player safety.*

May 3, 2020 Ghana Rugby / Herbert Mensah

Herbert Mensah Congratulates Rugby Africa President, Khaled Babbou, on Becoming a Member of the new World Rugby EXCO

Dear Khaled,

Congratulations and Godspeed

May I personally and on behalf of Ghana Rugby congratulate you on your election as Member of the new World Ruby Executive.

Rugby, including Rugby in Africa, has major challenges to tackle and overcome.

We know that your presence on the World Rugby EXCO will make a positive contribution not only towards the greater good of Rugby but also towards an improved dispensation for one of the fastest-growing regions in the world – AFRICA.

Be assured of my personal and Ghana Rugby’s full support.

Yours truly

Herbert Mensah
President: Ghana Rugby Football Union (GRFU)

May 3, 2020 Ghana Rugby / Herbert Mensah

Ghana Rugby Congratulates World Rugby EXCO Members On Election Results

Accra, Ghana. 03 May 2020./ – Mr Herbert Mensah, President and Board Chairperson of Ghana Rugby, issued letters of congratulations to the re-elected Chairperson of World Rugby, Sir Bill Beaumont, as well as to the African EXCO Members Mr Khaled Babbou (President: Rugby Africa) and Mr Mark Alexander (President: South African Rugby Union).

World Rugby unexpectedly announced the result of the just-ended election of a new World Rugby Executive Committee.

The new Executive Committee will comprise of Sir Bill Beaumont (Chairman), Bernard Laporte (Vice-Chairman), Brett Gosper (Chief Executive), Angela Ruggiero (Independent), Lord Mervyn Davies (Independent); Mark Alexander (South African Rugby Union), Khaled Babbou (Rugby Africa), Bart Campbell (New Zealand Rugby), Gareth Davies (Welsh Rugby Union), John Jeffrey (Scottish Rugby), Bob Latham (USA Rugby) and Brett Robinson (Rugby Australia).

In his messages of congratulations, Mensah stated that times have changed and greater equity was required for all. He noted the positivity of having President Khaled Babbou elected to the New Executive Committee (a first for Africa Rugby).

“The President of Rugby Africa’s ascendence to the Executive Committee is an indication of changing times. The elections are often seen as simply a stay or changing of the guard and not a time to change,” Mensah said.

But Mensah hoped that the gap between the haves and the have-nots would be tackled proactively. ?Rugby has major challenges to tackle and overcome and he expressed the hope and believe that the newly elected EXCO will indeed tackle and overcome all the challenges ahead to ensure the continued growth and well-being of Rugby, also in Africa.

Mensah also extended his appreciation to Mr Agustín Picho who unsuccessfully contested for the top position in World Rugby and thanked him for his selfless service to Rugby as Vice-Chairperson over the past four years.

Africa is well-represented on the new World Rugby Executive Committee with both Mr Mark Alexander (President: South African Rugby Union) and Mr Khaled Babbou (President: Rugby Africa) occupying a seat. All Members of the Executive Committee were ‘elected’ unopposed.

Mensah congratulated both Babbou and Alexander with their positions on the World Rugby EXCO and expressed the hope that they will do all they can to improve the support to Africa from the world governing body.

“We fully realise that the World Rugby EXCO is there to execute the will of the World Rugby Council for the greater good of rugby. The plight of developing rugby in the world, however, is huge and I believe that the position of a region such as Africa as one of the fastest-growing areas of the Game should be reviewed as a matter of urgency,” Mensah said.

Mr Herbert Mensah, President of Ghana Rugby, with newly re-elected Chairperson of World Rugby, Sir Bill Beaumont, newly elected EXCO Member Mr Khaled Babbou and World Rugby CEO, Mr Brett Gosper.

About Ghana Rugby