The Chairman of the five-member interim Hajj Taskforce, Alhaji Collins Dauda, has revealed that the previous government left behind a public debt of Gh₵81,142,899.90 from past Hajj pilgrimage trips. The debt, owed to various firms providing services for the pilgrimage, was disclosed during a press conference on Wednesday, February 5.
However, Dauda, who is also the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Asutifi South, expressed confidence that the government has made strides to ease the financial burden on Ghanaian Muslims. He announced a significant reduction in the cost of the Hajj fare, slashing it from Gh₵75,000 last year to Gh₵62,000 for 2025.
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This reduction is part of a key promise made by President John Dramani Mahama during his 2024 presidential campaign, where he pledged to make the pilgrimage more accessible and affordable. The new fare of Gh₵62,000, which is approximately $4,130, is expected to increase Ghana’s quota of Muslims making the journey to Saudi Arabia.
“During the 2024 presidential electioneering campaign, President Mahama promised to reduce the Hajj fare to enable our Muslim brothers and sisters to perform the pilgrimage at a more affordable cost. Today, I am pleased to announce that President Mahama has honoured this commitment,” said Dauda.
The reduced fare was made possible through diligent negotiations by the task force, which participated in the Hajj conference in Saudi Arabia in January. These efforts included engaging with service providers in Mecca and Madina to secure the fare reduction.
The announcement of the fare reduction marks a significant achievement in fulfilling a key campaign promise, and it is expected to provide more opportunities for Muslims in Ghana to perform the Hajj pilgrimage in 2025.
