[ 2017-05-26 ]

Sheikh I.C Quaye was in Tamale with the hajj board to inspect facilities at the Tamale Airport

Hajj: Fate of 452 pilgrims ‘left-behind’ in 2016 still hanging
The new Hajj Board Chairman, Shiehk I.C. Quaye who
made this known said negotiations were still
underway with government to consider airlifting
them to perform the pilgrimage.

Last year, the Pilgrims Affairs Office of Ghana
(PAOG) the body in charge of Hajj organisation,
was accused by some would-be pilgrims of bias.

They said the PAOG sidelined them even though they
paid their fare and in their position political
party faithful who were sponsored by government
went to Mecca.

As a result some Muslims have questioned why the
government continues to sponsor the pilgrimage and
rather called for a stop since it was un-Islamic.

Related: Stop sponsoring Hajj pilgrims –
Islamic cleric urges gov't Sheikh I.C Quaye
was in Tamale on Wednesday with the hajj board to
inspect facilities at the Tamale Airport and
Stadium, where they have decided to set up a Hajj
village, to process the documentation of pilgrims
from the northern zone.

He explained they would start airlifting pilgrims
from August 10, 2017 and that they will go in six
batches from the Kotoka International Airport and
Tamale Airport, 3,000 from the northern zone and
the rest from the southern zone.

Though the Saudi Arabian government has allocated
a 6,800 quota to Ghana, the Hajj Board says it has
budgeted for 6,200 as of now and that efforts were
underway to secure funding for the remaining 600.

This year, the Tamale Sport Stadium has been
chosen as the alternative place to set up the Hajj
village for the processing and documentation of
the pilgrims in the northern zone.

Sheikh I.C Quaye commended the security and the
management of the airport for their early
preparation towards the Hajj programmes.

He added that about 25 pilgrims were repatriated
for their inability to meet the required standards
in Saudi Arabia last year.

According to him, means of transport has also been
secured for the pilgrims to transport them from
the venue to their destinations especially for the
aged and the vulnerable.

He asked hajj agents to educate their clients on
the need to process their passports and their air
ticket on time to enable the appropriate security
agencies to process them.

The Northern Regional Minister, Mr Salifu Sa-eed
noted that the use of the Tamale Sports Stadium
would help prevent theft, get the pilgrims proper
shelter and reduce the risk sleeping under the
mercy of the weather.

Last year a total of 1,500 pilgrims were airlifted
from the Tamale Airport to Jeddah Saudi Arabia
directly to perform the Hajj.

Source - Graphic.com.gh

... go Back