There was chaos at Diamond Fm, a local radio station in Tamale last Friday when the spokesperson of the National Hajj Committee, Halidu Haruna and Alhaji Yakubu Ayarna, a Hajj agent leveled accusations at each other.
Alhaji Ayarna, Chief Executive of Tamale-based Ayana Travel and Tour Agency accused the Hajj Board of failing to make arrangement for his clients to travel to Saudi Arabia.
But the spokesperson of the Hajj Committee, who could no longer conceal what he described as deceit of Alhaji Ayarna, accused him of presenting three dud Intercontinental Bank cheques to the board.
He explained that many of his clients could not make it to the Holy Land because he presented dud cheques, disclosing that the Committee was not committed to prosecuting him.
In a sharp rebuttal, Alhaji Ayarna refuted the accusations, claiming the cheques were two instead of the three.
He said he was making plans to enable the over 200 prospective pilgrims including 160 Fulanis under his agency fly out for the religious event before the closing date.
Halidu Haruna on the other hand disclosed that those duly recognized by the Hajj Board would embark on the trip this year despite the hiccups.
The 160 stranded prospective Fulani pilgrims claimed they paid between GH�5,000 and GH�6,000 and could not fathom why they had been left out while their colleagues have since left the shores of the country.
The stranded pilgrims, who are sleeping in the open space at the offices of Ayana Travel, said they were yet to be given reasons by Alhaji Ayana Yakubu, Chief Executive Officer.
When DAILY GUIDE visited the area, most of them warned that they would resort to violence if the agent does not refund their monies.
They threatened to unleash their anger on Alhaji Ayana and staff of the agency if he fails to refund their monies to enable them travel to their home communities since it was clear they would not travel to Saudi Arabia.
A distressed Mahamudu Sahadu from Busunu in the Central Gonja District bemoaned the treatment being meted out to them and warned that they will not take it kindly if the agent fails to refund their monies.
The stranded pilgrims have accused Alhaji Ayana Yakubu and the National Hajj Board of conniving to dupe them, appealing to government to intervene in the matter.
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