President John Dramani Mahama has called for strict adherence to established guidelines for this year’s Hajj pilgrimage.
As part of the procedure, mandatory medical examination and screening for prospective pilgrims is expected to commence on Monday, February 2.
The exercise will be conducted in collaboration with designated medical teams to ensure the health and safety of all intending pilgrims ahead of the sacred journey.
President Mahama made the call when he commissioned the Akweteyman Central Mosque in Accra on January 29.
“This year we’re giving a quota of 5,960 and we reduced the price to GHC60,000.My last meeting with the Hajj Committee indicated that we have filled the quota.We don’t want the usual practice where people delay in coming to pay and they wait at the last minute and they want us to open it again so that they will come and pay,” he warned.
The President explained that ” It normally creates a problem for us because that’s what leads to delays, that’s what leads to some people being left behind.And so I’ll ask you to understand the Hajj Committee. They say they’ve reached the quota and so those who are late, you just have to wait till next year.”
He urged those who do not get the opportunity to embark on the trip not to worry.
“It’s God who decides when you go to Mecca and so if you don’t go this year, next year you’ll have the opportunity.But I want all of us to cooperate with the Hajj Committee so that we have a very peaceful Hajj this year,” the President pleaded.
Touching on preparations so far, he said, “They’ve already done some work. They’ve gotten good accommodation which is closer to the Kaaba.They’ve got accommodation in Madina and everything. They’re arranging the transport and all that. And I’m sure that this year we’re going to have a very good exercise.”
President Mahama also provided update on the transit terminal.
“The airport transit terminal, Ghana Airport Company is building it and it will be available to us to use any time we are conducting the Hajj.Unfortunately, it’s not completed and so this year we’ll not be able to use it. But I’m sure that from 2027, those going to the Hajj will have a very comfortable transit terminal to go through,” he assured.
