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Following the twin tragic disasters at this year’s Hajj in Mecca and Mina in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the safe return of Ghanaians pilgrims from the holy land, the national chief Imam, Dr Shehu Nuhu Sharubutu has declared Saturday, October 31 2015, as a national day of mourning and prayer.

As part of the activities, all regional Imams in the country have been summoned to Accra this coming Saturday by the national chief Imam for special prayers for those who perished in the stampede in Mina and those who died through natural death as well as others, who were injury and are receiving treatment.

A spokesperson of the Chief Imam who disclosed this to The al-hAJJ said, the Imams and Ulamaus attending Saturday event will take the opportunity to pray for the President, our national leaders and for the peace and stability of the country especially, ahead of the 2016 crucial general elections.

According to Alhaji Latif, the solemn ceremony to be led by the national chief Imam who will be assisted by high ranking and eminent ulamau and Islamic scholars would take place on Saturday, the 31st of October 2015 at the Abosse Okai central mosque at 9.00am.

Dignitaries expected to grace the occasion include high powered government delegation, leaders of opposition parties, council of Muslim chief, opinion leaders and ambassadors of Islamic countries.
This year’s hajj witnessed one of the deadliest incidents in 25 years, where more than 1000 pilgrims lost their lives and over 900 injured during the last rituals of the Hajj at Mina.

The stampede occurred during a ritual called “stoning the devil”, with some pilgrims saving their entire lives in order to participate. The event was held in the tent city of Mina about two miles from the holy site in Islam’s holiest city, Mecca. More than 2 million pilgrims attend the Hajj in Saudi Arabia. Earlier a crane had collapse over the grand mosque killing scores of pilgims.
A total of 5424 Ghanaian Muslims participated in this year’s annual hajj rituals in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The latest death toll of Ghanaians now stands at 24 after some of those deemed missing were identified to be among the dead in last month’s deadly stampede at Mina, The aL-hAJJ has gathered.