Ghana Hajj Board Collaborates with Saudi Authorities to Curb Unauthorized Hajj Travels

The Ghana Hajj Board has announced its collaboration with security agencies in Saudi Arabia to arrest Ghanaians attempting to perform this year’s Hajj using unauthorized visas.

In a recent press conference held in Accra, Alhaji Ben Abdullah Banda, the Chairman of the Ghana Hajj Board, emphasized that only the Hajj Visa, one of the four visa categories issued by Saudi authorities, is legitimate for performing Hajj. The board is the sole entity recognized and mandated by Saudi authorities to organize and manage the affairs of Ghanaian pilgrims.

“We are collaborating with the security agencies in Saudi Arabia, so if you try to sneak into Madina and enter any of our tents to sleep or feed on our food, we will arrest you or put you in a situation that may be unpleasant for you,” warned Alhaji Banda.

Despite acknowledging that the cost for this year’s pilgrimage, approximately GH¢75,000, is quite high, the board assured that it is the best offer, covering return tickets, accommodation, food, transportation within Saudi Arabia, and ensuring safety and security.

“We, therefore, wish to caution prospective pilgrims and others to be wary of persons, including travel and tour agencies that are advertising their seeming abilities to ferry people to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for a lesser amount of money. Those who get convinced by such persons and pay monies to them do so at their peril,” added Alhaji Banda.

The first flight for this year’s Hajj is scheduled to depart from Tamale today, carrying over 400 pilgrims who will be received in Madina by an advance team from the board and officials from Ghana’s Embassy in Saudi Arabia. The airlifting from Tamale is set to conclude on Friday, May 31, 2024, while flights from Accra will commence on Sunday, June 2 and end on Tuesday, June 6, 2024.

The board has ensured that decent accommodation and transportation within Saudi Arabia have been arranged for the duration of the Hajj. Additionally, a medical team will be on hand to attend to the health needs of the pilgrims. Orientation programs have already been conducted in Yendi, Wa, Tamale, Kumasi, and Accra to educate pilgrims on the dos and don’ts of Hajj.

“We wish to admonish our prospective pilgrims to be good ambassadors of Ghana while in Saudi Arabia,” concluded Alhaji Banda.

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