The Chairman of the Hajj Board, Ben Abdallah Banda says there will be major improvements in the operations of the Ghana Hajj Board next year to ensure better service for Ghanaian pilgrims.
Welcoming the final batch of Ghanaian Hajj pilgrims home from Mecca over the weekend, the Hajj Board Chairman admitted that, as a human institution, they did not get everything right this year and duly apologized to the pilgrims for any inconveniences they may have encountered during this year's Hajj.
"Ghana Hajj Board is a human institution and surely, we could not have had everything right," Ben Abdallah told the pilgrims.
"I want to take this opportunity to apologize to you all on behalf of the board for any inconvenience our actions or inactions may have caused you throughout this process."
The Hajj Board Chairman, however, assured the pilgrims and to some extent, Ghanaians, that things won't be the same.
"Whatever it is, the status quo is not going to remain. In shaa Allah, things will change and we will have a marked improvement in our operations."
"On behalf of Government, I want to congratulate all of you for completing the Hajj and returning home. We thank the Almighty Allah."
The Board Chairman was accompanied by Board Members Abdul Aziz Haruna Futa and Alhaji Masawudu Osman.
Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana
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Well said . However you have to take a second look at the rate hajj fares keep ballooning each year. In 2019 the hajj fare was pegged at GHC 19,500.00 ( In 2020 and 2021,hajj for pilgrims from foreign countries was suspended due to the Covid 19 pandemic) In 2022 the hajj fare shot up to GHC 39,000.00 ie an increase of 100%. Most prospective Ghanaian pilgrims were expecting the hajj board to maintain the 2022 figure only for the board to announce another 100% increase to GHC 75,000.00 This cannot be allowed to continue. I remember some group of Moslems asked the Hajj board to come out with the itemized fare i.e. Flight charges in and out, accommodation, transport, feeding and medical for 6 weeks , this the hajj board failed to do. It is not all the pilgrims who are flown in one day to perform the hajj, the last badge of pilgrims mostly arrive in Mecca for the hajj some 3-5 days for the hajj rites to start so they may not stay in the kingdom up to a month before their return meaning the hajj board makes some savings. It is our hope that the hajj fare for 2024 will be Announced mush earlier to enable prospective pilgrims prepare adequately. GHC 75, 000. 00 is definitely on the high side considering the annual increases. Even some states in Nigeria with all their money reduced the hajj fare for 2023 compared to the 2022 fare.