The Chairman of the Ghana Hajj Board, Ben Abdallah Banda, has signed a 2024 Hajj agreement with Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
The mandatory agreement, signed in Jeddah during the ongoing 2024 Hajj Conference, officially confirms Ghana’s participation in the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage, which is expected to take place in June this year.
With the agreement, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah will now commence official engagements with Ghana’s Hajj Board, which will include the allocation of quota to Ghana and other important engagements between now and the time of the Hajj.
Speaking to journalists after the signing ceremony, Chairman of the Ghana Hajj Board, Alhaji Ben Abdallah Banda, expressed satisfaction at the signing. He mentioned that the signing indicates that Ghana is formally and legitimately cleared to participate in this year’s Hajj.
He also expressed gratitude to Saudi’s Ministry of Hajj. Alhaji Banda, said he has had discussions with the Saudi authorities on ways to improve Ghana’s Hajj experience.
Among the issues he discussed with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, the Board Chairman revealed, is the infiltration of Ghana’s Hajj camp by people who connive with others to use tourist visas to pretend to perform the Hajj, using Ghana’s Hajj allocations.
He noted that this practice has had a negative impact and consequences. Alhaji Banda said he has received assurances from the Deputy Hajj Minister that a stricter measure would be put in place to ensure that people do not take advantage of the system. They are also putting in place additional measures to ensure that people who do that are punished.
Source: TV3
