The Ghana Hajj Board has been asked to improve services by Ghanaian pilgrims who are currently in Saudi Arabia for the Hajj, citing potential for improvement despite positive progress thus far.
More than 4,000 pilgrims from Ghana, 2,200 of whom came from Tamale and the remaining pilgrims from Accra, have all been housed and nourished after completing the shorter Hajj (ummrah).
Muslims are obligated to make at least one pilgrimage in their lives as one of the tenets of Islam.
Millions of Muslims travel to Mecca every year to do the Hajj; the cost of a ticket for this year’s Hajj is approximately GHC 75,000 per person.
On Tuesday, May 28, 2024, the first of nine aircraft planned for this year’s Hajj took off from Tamale International Airport in the Northern Region.
While food is supplied, some pilgrims reported disappointment with the alternatives, stating that it occasionally falls short of their expectations.
“As for food, they are giving us food but the food sometimes is not what we demand but at least, they bring us food so we cannot say there’s no food. I think they can do better because before you become a task force, you have to be familiar with the area so that you can help others.”
Speaking to Channel One News, Alhaji Farouk Hamza, the Executive Secretary of the Ghana Hajj Board, recognized the difficulties but gave the assurance that they have been surmounted and that plans are in motion for the main Hajj.
Nonetheless, pilgrims have completed their ummrah and are excitedly anticipating the Hajj.
“We managed to overcome some of these challenges. We succeeded in airlifting. There are over 4000 pilgrims from Ghana, 2,200 from Tamale and the rest from Accra. Everybody is well accommodated, everybody is being fed. And everybody has performed the lesser Hajj which is the ummrah. Now we are in readiness for the main Hajj.”
