Muslims performing the holy pilgrimage
The government has stated that the annual Hajj trip will now cost GH¢62,000 instead of GH¢75,000 for Ghanaian Muslims who wish to travel to perform the holy pilgrimage.
Prior to winning the 2024 elections, President John Dramani Mahama made a major campaign pledge, which this action fulfills.
It is anticipated that the fee reduction will improve accessibility for more people who want to take part in the trip and raise Ghana’s quota for Muslim pilgrims.
Following a meeting with Saudi officials, Collins Dauda, the MP for Asutifi South and head of the five-member temporary Hajj task team, at a press conference on Wednesday, February 5, outlined the government’s plans to handle pilgrimage-related issues.
“During the 2024 presidential electioneering campaign, John Dramani Mahama, the President of Ghana, pledged to the Muslim community that if he won the elections, he would do everything possible to reduce the Hajj fare. That was to enable our Muslim brothers and sisters to perform the Hajj at a reduced fare. He also committed himself to making Hajj accessible and affordable. We will recall that last year, the fare was set at GH¢75,000.
“Today, I am pleased to announce that President Mahama has been able to honour this commitment. He set up a task force made up of four Muslims to participate in the Hajj conference, which took place in January in Saudi Arabia, and also to have the opportunity to engage our service providers in Saudi Arabia, specifically in Mecca and Madina.
“Through diligent negotiations and collaborations, the task force has successfully secured a significant reduction in the Hajj fare for 2025. Upon the advice of the president, the fare for the 2025 Hajj has been set at GH¢62,000, which is equivalent to $4,130.”
The government has reassured the Muslim community that it is still dedicated to providing Ghanaian pilgrims with a smooth and reasonably priced Hajj pilgrimage experience.
Additional steps will be taken to guarantee seamless logistics and coordination for the trip in 2025.
KA
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