Tuesday, 27th May, 2025
Hon Habib Iddrisu
Tolon
Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to make a Statement on the 2025 Hajj and Eid-ul Adha Festival.
Mr Speaker, Hajj is not merely a travel activity, it is a profound spiritual obligation for Muslims, immersed in centuries of religious heritage. Article 21(1)(c) of our 1992 Constitution, guarantees every citizen the freedom to practice any religion and to manifest such practice. As such, I rise this afternoon, compelled by duty, faith and fidelity to the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, to address the developments surrounding Ghana’s current Hajj operation.
Mr Speaker, before I proceed, I would like to seize this opportunity to express my deepest gratitude and profound appreciation to the Rt Hon Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin. On behalf of the Muslim Caucus of the Eighth Parliament, we appreciate the unwavering support he has extended to the Muslim Caucus through the provision and support for the Umrah, which we have done every year for the last five years. This gesture is nothing short of remarkable. Indeed, it is unprecedented in the annals of our history.
Mr Speaker, your generosity and commitment to the welfare of Muslims stand as a shining example of leadership with a heart; a legacy of compassion that remains unmatched. You have not only set a benchmark, but have also demonstrated what it truly means to be a leader who bridges faith, exclusivity, and benevolence. For this, we are eternally grateful and your name will forever be entrenched in our hearts as a true champion of the Muslim community.
Mr Speaker, I was privileged to serve as a member of the Ghana Hajj Board under the previous Administration. We worked with transparency and integrity to ensure that our pilgrim was a safe, dignified and spiritually fulfilled experience. Though it was not an easy task, especially on the issues of fares, we ensured that standards of care, accommodation, logistics, and coordination were never compromised. Indeed, our pilgrims might have paid more, but they travelled with peace of mind and returned with their dignity intact.
Mr Speaker, the current Government must be commended for reducing the Hajj fare by GH₵13,000: from GH₵75,000 to GH₵62,000. However, the unfortunate reality unfolding does not reflect the reality of the living conditions as pilgrims are enduring inhumane conditions in the Holy Land. They have taken to social media and other platforms to lament over inadequate accommodation, poor feeding, disorganised schedules, disrespectful treatment by handlers and, in some cases, outright neglect.
Mr Speaker, the gravity of the crisis in this year’s Hajj has forced the Public Relations Officer, one of our own, Mr Alhassan Bashir Alhassan Fuseini, to publicly apologise to Ghanaian pilgrims affected by the visa issue. In his admission, he said, “we are sorry”. “We are sorry” is a damning indictment of a systematic failure. Yet, even as pilgrims remain stranded, the response of the Board remains inadequate. The Board has informed us that reimbursement will be provided to individuals who were unable to attend, but does little to address the suffering of those currently enduring these conditions in Saudi Arabia.
Mr Speaker, the problems of the Hajj taskforce have been compounded by the reckless dismantling of institutional memory. Nearly all experienced staff from previous Administrations were moved, leaving the current taskforce without the expertise needed to manage such a complex operation. The only exception was Dr Sham-una, who was the Director of Information Technology (IT), who was later invited back to assist in the operations when issues cropped up.
Mr Speaker, Article 12(1) of our Constitution provides that, “The fundamental human rights and freedom enshrined in this Chapter shall be respected and upheld by the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary and all other organs of government…” The failure of the State to protect pilgrims through the Hajj taskforce violates this sacred duty. Article 17(1) further states that, “All persons shall be equal before the law” Yet, Ghanaian pilgrims face discrimination and neglect in Saudi Arabia, and in some instances, they were evacuated from their hotel.
Mr Speaker, this is a violation of Article 34(1) which mandates that the State policy must establish “a just and free society”. There is nothing just about pilgrims sleeping on floors or going hungry. There is nothing free about silencing grievances while failing to deliver basic services.
Mr Speaker, the situation calls for urgent national reflection. Governance must not be reduced to soundbites and optics. Faith-based programmes, such as Hajj, require technical knowledge, transparency and commitment to the welfare of citizens and not shallow political scoring. The reduction in Hajj fares was clearly not based on any comprehensive assessment of cost and service delivery. Today, the consequences are clear; the very people who were supposed to benefit from the reduction of the Hajj fare are now suffering from the same. Mr Speaker, over the last eight years, the organisation of Hajj have been successful, even though we had challenges, but it still managed to be successful.
In this case in 2025, it has been a serious problem, resulting from bad hotels, distance of hotels to the Holy Place, and pilgrims are now suffering to catch up, whether praying or to cater for their own life.
Mr Speaker, Article 35 of the Constitution enjoins the state to promote the integration and unity of all Ghanaians and provide equal opportunity for all. Let us remember that the pilgrims are not only Muslims, but also, they are equally citizens of Ghana. They are our fathers, mothers, leaders and constituents. We must rise above partisan consideration and ensure that never again do Ghanaian pilgrims suffer in pursuit of a sacred duty.
Mr Speaker, let the truth be known and let responsibilities be taken. The politicisation of Hajj has failed us as Ghanaians. It is high time we took politics out of the organisation of Hajj. It is high time we took politics out of its pricing, accommodation and the services rendered. It is time to restore dignity, competence and faith in this important national and religious endeavour.
Mr Speaker, the organisation of Hajj is about competence and care. The politicisation of Hajj has failed. Let us restore dignity to this sacred journey, and let us have a trouble-free Hajj. Our current pilgrims in Saudi Arabia are suffering. Most of our current pilgrims in Saudi Arabia do not have accommodation, and others are going hungry. Our mothers and fathers are suffering in the sacred land, and for that matter, the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration and the Committee on Youth and Sports should take up this matter and collaborate with Hajj Task Force to ensure that the necessary attention is given to the pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Hon Fred Kyei Asamoah
Offinso North
Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity. The Committee on Chieftaincy, Culture and Religious Affairs is really interested in this issue of pilgrimage. We, as a country, are a religious nation.
Over 75 per cent are Christians, and over 20 per cent are Muslims. It is something that we have to be proud of as a nation, and we want to encourage such pilgrimage across both the Christian and the Muslim fraternity.
Mr Speaker, it is quite unfortunate that we have Ghanaians going out and have to go through such difficult times as they try to build themselves both spiritually and physically. As a nation, we would want to support them with all the needed resources that, as they go, they can come back spiritually strong and to be able to improve on the peace that we intend to build for our future generations.
Mr Speaker, the Committee, as I earlier said, is interested and would want to look further into what happened as a Committee on Chieftaincy, Culture and Religious Affairs of this august House.
Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity.
Hon Rockson-Nelson Etse Kwami Dafeamekpor
South Dayi
Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to comment on the Statement made by the First Deputy Minority Whip in respect of the contribution of the Speaker towards preparation of our pilgrims who are embarking on a trip to Mecca. And some matters arising.
Mr Speaker, it is true that the contribution of the Speaker towards this annual religious ritual is notable. So, it is in order that he is commended for it. But I think that the Member ought to commend the President of the Republic for the monumental drop that he directed for the fare of GH₵75,000 to GH₵62,000 now. That is a drop of GH₵13,000 difference, and it is very significant
Mr Speaker, as I speak, contrary to the matters by the maker of the Statement, our pilgrims are flying from Tamale to Mecca directly and flying from Kotoka International Airport in Accra also to Mecca directly. For the past three weeks, flights are lifting off and landing in Mecca. So, I am shocked to hear that suddenly, our pilgrims are hungry and have no accommodation. They are going through the processes, and this is pilgrimage.
Mr Speaker, let us be very frank and give credit where it is due. As we speak, the maker of the Statement says that the reduction of the air ticket was not done in comparison or based on any assessment at all. But the benefit is that if I had to pay GH₵75,000 last year, then this year, naturally, the fare would have gone up. But the President says he is reducing the fare, and the shortfall is borne by the state. That is where the commendation must go.
Mr Speaker, again, the First Deputy Minority Whip laments the fact that some appointees serving on the Hajj Board have been removed. He said they have been removed Well, let me quote you. You are lamenting that, for some reason, persons who are serving on the Hajj Board now lack institutional memory as a result of the fact that those who were there before they came have all been removed. And that you quoted the Constitution to support the fact that there must be fair treatment of all public staff or all persons within the public space. I agree, but if you refer to matters of institutional memory, then we should have had people who were serving on the Hajj Board since 2015.
In 2017, they were all removed. So that practice, I agree that, you and I sitting here— There was a Hajj Board before year 2000, but upon the onset of year 2000 and 2001, somebody directed that they be removed. So, this practice of removing people from the public space for new ones to take over when there is a change of government, began from you. It began from that Side. If today he laments that it is a bad practice, yes, I agree. So, we must depart from that path. I hope that in 30 years’ time when they come, they would not be removing people from the Hajj Board.
Mr Speaker, contrary to what the maker of the Statement said, I want to commend our own Colleagues, Alhaji Collins Dauda, who is in charge of the preparation so far, regarding getting our pilgrims to travel successfully to Mecca and back, ably assisted by the Hon Member for Daboya/Mankarigu, Hon Mahama Shaibu.
Mr Speaker, if you visit the Hajj Village, the sheer number of pilgrims who are going through the process, cum the sheer number of persons loved ones who have come to assist so that they embark on the trip, presents a certain challenge logistically. But they have weathered the storm.
Mr Speaker, arranging transportation for persons to travel from here to Tamale to board and to fly to Mecca in their hundreds, takes some challenge and ability to do that. Securing flight arrangements for people who are on the ground here to embark on the trip from Kotoka International Airport also presents some challenge. It took some skill for them to go through all that, and luckily, if God gives us tomorrow, Mr Speaker, I believe the last batch will be airlifted.
So, I want to use the opportunity to commend them for the good work done and we pray that this year, none of our pilgrims who have been flown to Mecca will suffer any fatality, and that all of them will return home in good health, having gone through the Umrah.
Mr Speaker, on this note, I thank you for the opportunity.
Hon Abdul Kabiru Tiah Mahama
Walewale
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, I want to join in commending the respected Deputy Chief Whip for this brilliant Statement.
Mr Speaker, there are certain things that I think that should go beyond politics and as rightly put by my friend, Dr Asamoah, religion is one and as a country we have chosen for ourselves that we believe in some tenets of faith, be it Christianity, traditional religion or Islam.
Mr Speaker, Hajj has been performed over time. This is not the first time pilgrims are moving from Tamale to Hajj in a straight flight. Consecutively, pilgrims moving from Tamale have been a ritual practice and I think that if this current Government is continuing with that, we only commend them for continuing a precedent that was set and a practice that has been tested to be very much efficient in the management of Hajj affairs.
Mr Speaker, but the issues this year, the sheer neglect of pilgrims, the deplorable conditions in which some of these pilgrims are living, the inhumane environment, the insanitary conditions some of these pilgrims are facing in Hajj are not something that you want your family member to live in.
Mr Speaker, it might be as a result of lapses and we have to admit it because an event of that nature cannot be organised without challenges. We have to admit that the challenges we are facing this year are far more enormous. I have gone to Hajj. I participated in the last two before the last one, and I know the conditions pilgrims go through and we have to do everything this year.
Mr Speaker, one of the reasons is that Government is intervening in this year’s Hajj through the subsidy program, the difference between the actual price and what the pilgrims are now paying. That is why the respected leader of the House, Mr Dafeamekpor wants us to praise the Government. If government decides to build a cathedral, which is a problem, but a different government decides to subsidise Hajj and it is all right, it is the matter of government priorities and we will not want to go into the propriety of that, but the subsidy program is what was holding the Hajj program.
That notwithstanding, even as the subsidy program came in, many of the people who applied did not get visas. The Hajj board reported that over 40 people did not get visas. These were people who duly paid for their pilgrims to go to Mecca. By no fault of theirs, due to institutional failure, they could not go and perform a ritual and one thinks we should not talk about it here? It is important we acknowledge the faith of these people. It is important that we first acknowledge it and put in measures so that subsequent journeys will not be faced with such problems.
Lastly, Mr Speaker, there is this talk about the fact that the NDC government has done something radically different when it comes to the organisation of Hajj. Mr Speaker, the previous government realised the need to facilitate Hajj program and that is why we commenced the Hajj village program as part of the airport extension or airport development program. Fortunately, this Government came in to inherit that program and commission it. If we had not started this brilliant idea, I am not sure the Government would have seen the need to continue with that.
So, let us be mindful that when it comes to Hajj, it is a ritual journey and that those who embark on that journey have to be protected and their safety, their health, and their welfare must be prioritised by the Government and we should all be seen supporting the Statement made by Hon Habib Iddrisu, the Deputy Minority Whip for this brilliant Statement.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
Hon Shaibu Mahama
Daboya/Mankarigu
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity.
Let me commend the maker of the Statement for the insight. The initial paragraphs outlined clearly what the issues of Hajj have been. Indeed, he has been on that seat for the last three or four years and he knows exactly the issues that come with organising Hajj.
Mr Speaker, let me put on record that Government has not subsidised Hajj fares. It should be on record that the Hajj Task Force negotiated competitively this year’s Hajj fares from GH₵75,000 to GH₵62,000. That is effective negotiation and I would want to put that on record. The maker of the Statement should be commending the Task Force for reducing fares by GH₵13,000. The second one is that last year an estimated 3,500 pilgrims were airlifted to Madina and Mecca.
This year, we are airlifting 5,910 pilgrims per the available statistics and data. That is a whopping 85 per cent jump and indeed, as a human institution, you will have challenges. The same accommodation the Hon Leader used in the last two or three pilgrimages is still what we have used. Indeed, because of the numbers from 3,500 to 5,910, we have had to add additional accommodation. The issues of sheer neglect by the Hon Member for Walewale—Insanitary conditions, I think are just too harsh to comprehend. We have indeed done the very best to manage this year’s Hajj. Let me commend the leadership of the current Task Force.
Mr Speaker, Hajj would normally start with meetings called the Hijra meetings. In the later part of October and November right into the preceding year, indeed Ghana missed out on all the Hijra meetings of last year up until the elections so we nearly lost out in attending Hajj this year but for the timely intervention of His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, who hurriedly put together the Hajj Task Force to manage and get us back until the 2025 Hajj season.
So, indeed, there would be issues, but they are being surmounted. As we speak, the last batch of pilgrims will leave the Kotoka International Airport tomorrow at 2:00 p.m., and that would have signaled the end of our 14- flight movement from Accra and Tamale to Jeddah and Mecca. Indeed, it is a solemn season, a season to reflect on all that the pilgrims will wish. We pray that the Almighty Allah will take them to Hajj safely, accept their prayers, and bring them back safely.
I thank you very much, Mr Speaker and let me commend my Brother for raising the issues that are surmountable on the Floor.
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