President John Dramani Mahama has announced that Ghana will airlift exactly 5,000 pilgrims to Mecca for this year’s Hajj, with a strict payment deadline set for March 13.
Speaking at the sod-cutting ceremony for the Hajj Village on Friday, February 28, President Mahama emphasized the need for timely payments and proper planning to avoid last-minute challenges.
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“This year, we intend to airlift exactly 5,000 pilgrims to the holy land, and the task force has announced 13th March as the deadline for payment,” he stated.
To ensure a smooth process, the president revealed that a pre-finance arrangement has been made with a local bank, covering deposits for accommodation, transportation, and other logistical needs.
He also directed the Hajj Task Force to enforce the 5,000-pilgrim limit strictly, warning against accommodating latecomers.
“I’ve instructed the task force that they should cut off at exactly 5,000 and not go beyond. We don’t want a repeat of past situations where people rush with late payments, and we are unable to airlift them,” he said.
The directive aims to streamline the organization of the pilgrimage and prevent disruptions that have plagued previous Hajj operations.
