The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, host of the Hajj Pilgrimage, has increased Ghana’s quota from 4,000 to 5,000 pilgrims.
The Chairman of the Ghana Hajj Task Force, Alhaji Collins Dauda, who disclosed this at a press conference in Accra on Wednesday, said the task force took advantage of the recent Hajj conference in Saudi Arabia, where they held fruitful negotiations leading to favorable agreements with service providers for prospective Ghanaian pilgrims.
Fare
The chairman announced that the Hajj fare for this year has been set at GH¢62,000, equivalent to $4,130 at an exchange rate of GH¢15 to a dollar.
He noted that this represented a 17.3% reduction from last year’s fare of GH¢75,000.
Alhaji Dauda explained that the fare reduction was made following the President’s advice to ensure that the Hajj pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam, remains affordable for the average Ghanaian Muslim.
Alhaji Dauda added that this commitment was in fulfillment of a promise made by National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate, John Mahama, during the 2024 election campaign.
“And through diligent negotiations and collaboration, the task force has successfully secured a significant reduction in the Hajj fare for 2025,” he said.
“This certainly represents a substantial decrease of approximately $2,000,” he added.
Debt
The chairman also announced an accumulated debt of $5.41 million from the previous administration’s operations and stated that the government would initiate investigations into the matter.
The debt includes $446,933 owed to catering service providers; $4,429,260 for flights; and about $533,333 for education and teaching services.
Appreciation
Seth Ibrahim Ayi, the Public Relations Officer of the Hajj Agents Association, expressed satisfaction with the reduction in this year’s Hajj fares.
He said the new fares would encourage more people to participate in the pilgrimage.
Each year, millions of Muslims from around the world travel to Saudi Arabia to perform the Hajj, which takes place during the sacred month of Dhul Hijjah, the twelfth month of the Islamic Calendar.
Muslims who perform the Hajj pilgrimage must undergo a series of rites and rituals, each offering its own unique purpose and wisdom.
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