Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, Majority Chief Whip
The Majority Chief Whip, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, has stated that comparing the Hajj Village to the National Cathedral is baseless.
According to him, the construction of the facility comes at no cost to the Ghanaian taxpayer, as it is funded by the Ghana Airports Company Limited.
He emphasized that, unlike the controversial National Cathedral, the Hajj Village is built to cater to the needs of Muslim pilgrims.
In a post on his X page on March 3, 2025, Dafeamekpor explained that the Hajj Village is an extended facility owned by the Ghana Airports Company and will be used exclusively for departure and arrival halls, as well as other travel-related activities for Muslim pilgrims.
“It is not a mosque or a spiritual center where Muslims would gather to pray. It is meant to ease the cumbersome routine checks when our Muslim compatriots embark on their pilgrimage to Mecca and return. The facilities offered won’t be free; pilgrims will pay for every service rendered to them, just as it is done at other airport terminals,” he wrote.
He further explained that a designated space for prayer is necessary, given that Muslim pilgrims often spend six to eight hours at the airport before departure.
“If a Muslim has to be at the airport for six to eight hours prior to departure, he has to offer one of his daily prayers. So, in order not to put an unnecessary burden on airport staff, a place has to be dedicated to them for their use,” he added.
The Hajj Village has sparked controversy in recent times, with some Ghanaians questioning its relevance and cost to the state.
Dafeamekpor dismissed these concerns, insisting that the project is a strategic investment by the Ghana Airports Company, which expects to recoup its investment, just as it did with the Terminal 3 project.
“The sudden comparison of the Hajj Village project with the botched National Cathedral is completely contrived and baseless. The Hajj Village project is an investment undertaken by the Ghana Airports Company. They will recoup their investment, just as they have done with the flagship Terminal 3 project.
“Please be guided,” he concluded.
SSD/MA
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