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A massive crowd of people in their thousands came out on the streets of Kumasi, capital of the Ashanti region of Ghana today to march in remembrance of over 127 people who died in a stampede at the Ohene Djan sports stadium in Accra on May 9 2001 during a soccer game between two of Ghana’s biggest football clubs, Accra Hearts of Oak and Kumasi Asante Kotoko.

The street march form part of a series of events that began in Accra on Thursday by the private organizers of the yearly memorial events and donations championed since 2002 by Mr. Herbert Mensah, business man and former Asante Kotoko football club chairman who run Asante Kotoko as at the time of the stadium disaster fifteen years ago.

The street march took place on the principal streets of the garden city and was led by Mr. Herbert Mensah, and many notable sports personalities and radio presenters, famous actors and actresses, footballers and former footballer as well as football fans of both Kotoko and Hearts of Oak in Kumasi.

Families of the victims of the May 9 stadium disaster were also present to take part in the memorial walk.

Earlier on Friday, the chief Imam of the Kumasi central mosque led prayers for the victims and their families after which donations of assorted items including food items, water and drinks were presented to families of victims by the organizers.

This year’s May 9 memorial events in Ghana witnessed participation from families of some victims of the Ellis Park stadium disaster in South Africa on April 11 2001 which also claimed at least 43 lives.

May 9 2016 memorial will be climaxed with the Zongo football gala tournament at Aboabo Park Saturday May 7 2016 between different soccer teams from all the Zongos drawn from both Accra and Kumasi.

Trophies and winning prices will be presented to winning teams after the tournament.