Hajj 2025: Ghana signs MOU with Saudi Arabia Government for Hajj 1446

 Picture: Ghanaian delegation led by Hon Collins Dauda.

Photo credit: Abdul Dahim Salifu

The Reality of Hajj Expenses in Saudi Arabia after COVID-19; The Ghanaian Hajj Pilgrim perspective

 

By Tanko Mohammed Rabiu 

Ghanaian Hajj Reporter's breakdown of Hajj expenses based on the reality in Saudi Arabia and cost of performing Hajj with approved fees from Saudi Arabia Ministry of Hajj And Umrah. The economic turmoil post COVID-19 pandemic has also affected the forex market making trading with the United States Dollar and other strong currencies difficult resulting to the depreciation of currencies like the Ghanaian Cedis and the Nigerian Naira.

Below is the breakdown of expenses of a Hajj pilgrim from Ghana influenced by current prices of good and services in Saudi Arabia.

1. Normal Flight: GHC 23,000 ( Return). This is different from chatter flights by Ghana Hajj Board which is expensive because the plane comes to Ghana empty and returns with pilgrims and repeat this route for about ten times

2. Accommodation: An average cost of hotel accommodation in Madina and Mecca per night is about $40 which is GHC 640 on $1 to GHC 16

3. Masha'ir: This is Stay in Mina, Arafah and Muzdalifa and is around $1300 and this is from Saudi Arabia government 

4. NUSUK: This is the official identification for Hajj pilgrims and is around $ 500 per pilgrim and every Hajj pilgrim must have this else you will be considered as an illegal pilgrim 

5. Feeding: The cost of food in Madina and Mecca on average is SAR 40 twice a day and in Ghana Cedis is GHC 170 Per pilgrim.

6. Transport: bus transport is around SAR 120 ( GHC 480) from Madina to Mecca. Remember pilgrims will also be transported from the  Airport in Madina, Mecca to Mina, Arafah and Muzdalifa and finally to the Airport for return to Ghana.

7. Visa processing fees and administrative costs are  also other cost items by the Ghana Hajj Board.

From point 1 to 6 alone is above GHC 76,000 per pilgrim for the thirty days stay in Saudi Arabia for Hajj especially 2023 and 2024 Hajj seasons which is above the Hajj fares Ghanaian pilgrims paid according to my personal experience on Hajj affairs as an Hajj Reporter over one decade.

Hajj 2024: Ghanaian Pilgrims applauds Manafe Al-Bayt Company for exceptional services

By Tanko Mohammed Rabiu 

Mecca 

Ghanaian Pilgrims who are under the supervision and control of the Ghana Hajj Board have expressed their sincere satisfaction on the services rendered to them throughout their stay in Mecca, Mina, Arafah and Muzdalifa by Manafe Al-Bayt Company whose services added more value with comfortability to Ghanaian Pilgrims worship to Allah during and after the Hajj pilgrimage.

Manafe Al-Bayt Company for Hajj Services is one of the branches of the Rehlat Wa Manafe Tourism Company, which is an offshoot of the main company, Ashraqat Company.

From their track record in the hospitality industry, the company was chosen to have the honor of serving  Ghanaian pilgrims from start of reception until their departure from Mecca to Ghana.

The company also supervised the welfare of Ghanaian Pilgrims in Mina and Arafat, following up on the camps and preparing them, and providing all the food and drinks and other services that made them fulfil the last pillar of Islam in comfort and with ease. 

The company had a good coordination with the Ghana Hajj Board and worked together as a cooperative team in achieving a common goal for Ghanaian pilgrims to perform the Hajj rituals with ease and simplicity.

According to the Director of Munafa Al-Bayt Branch for pilgrims Services, Turki S. Hassanaen the vision of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 2030 and the leader of the vision, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, and under the direct supervision of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the Minister of Hajj, Dr. Tawfiq Al-Rabiah,

Rehlat Wa Manafe Tourism Company is very keen on the quality of services and has relied on the quality of the branches’ functional structure and appointed quality supervisors from among the work team to directly supervise the service centers.

He continues "Most of those who work in serving pilgrims, work with love and have embedded psychological comfort in pilgrims. This, in my personal opinion, eliminates the language barrier in dealing with pilgrims, as pilgrims feel that those who serve them love and respect. Fear of God is the basis and dealing with pilgrims is considered as guests of God and His Holy House".

This is the first time the company is serving   Ghanaian pilgrims which has gone well with much appreciation from the pilgrims who live well away from home.

It is a wonderful opportunity for the Saudi based company with its staff to get to know new cultures and learn more about the country of Ghana and its kind people. The customer service staff exhibited sense of brotherhood with exchange of Saudi Arabia culture to Ghanaian Pilgrims in their hotels and in Mina.

"My impression of Ghanaian pilgrims is that they are friendly, honest and very respectful people", Turki S. Hassanaen eulogiesed.

Majority of the Ghanaian Pilgrims are therefore looking forward in receiving same and better reception from Manafe Al-Bayt Company and it's mother companies because of the wonderful services rendered to them.

END

Hajj 2024: Ghana flag rescues African pilgrims from getting lost in Mina

 

By Tanko Mohammed Rabiu 

Mina 

Pilgrims from Ghana who couldn't locate their tents after returning from Jamarat ( Stoning of the devil) in Mina on Hajj day three and the first day of Jamarat got saved by the help of the Ghana flag being flagged by  Ghanaian pilgrims at vantage points to assist Ghanaian Pilgrims.

The Jamarat is one of the rituals of Hajj and is expected to be performed by pilgrims immediately after observing Arafah and sleeping at Muzdalifa respectively. It is a commomeration of the event that happened between Prophet Ibrahim the father of Ismail and the devil when Allah directed Ibrahim to sacrifice his son ( Ismail) which Prophet Ibrahim obeyed Allah after several attempt by the devil to convince Prophet Ibrahim to disobey Allah.

But pilgrims from other African countries like Nigeria, Senegal, Mali, Togo and the rest who were also returning from the stoning of the devil made use of the Ghana flag to assist them in identifying their tents. These pilgrims asked for direction from the bearers of the Ghana flag for further location of their tents.

Mina, the city of the tents as it is popularly called due to the tent infrastructure in Mina accommodating millions of pilgrims for the five days of Hajj pilgrimage are very identical to each other in terms of shape, color, architecture design and same civil engineering models which has high tendency to mislead any pilgrim. Despite a well planned  city renaming,Tent numbering and GPS directions, millions of pilgrims both literate and 'illiterates' still get lost especially after returning from the ritual sites.

By design, Ghana is among the None Arabia African countries  tents with Nigeria Senegal, Mali, Togo, Burkina Faso, Kenya and many African countries except countries in Northern African who are of Arabia descent and thus makes it simple and easier to identify a country's tent using the Ghana flag in this case, because it is the most visible Africa flag among the thick crowd on the streets of Mina.

According to one of the Ghana flag bearers, the wavering and self hoisting of the Ghana flag has really rescued Ghanaian Pilgrims and many African pilgrims.

" As we are here, this our flag is helping our pilgrims from going to our tents because not everyone followed the organized group to Jamarat and the numbers are huge so this issue is bound to happen and that's why we are well stationed at different points leading from Arafah to the various tents", he explained.

He continues, " Our African brothers and sisters are also making good use of our flag to reach out to their tents because Ghana's flag is sinanimous to most flags in Africa like Senegal, Guinea Bissau, Mali and others. In fact, we are proud and happy that our national flag is helping African pilgrims in Mina".

Pilgrims acrose the participating countries here in Mina for the Hajj pilgrimage will continue with the stoning of the devil until June 18, 2024 ending their stay in Mina for the Hajj.

END.

Hajj 2024: Almighty Allah will touch lasting peace in Bawku - Regional Minister prays

 

By Tanko Mohammed Rabiu 

Mecca

The Upper East Regional minister Alhaji Hafiz Bin Salih who is currently in Saudi Arabia for this year's Hajj pilgrimage is praying to almighty Allah to have mercy and bring a lasting peace to Bawku and he is urging the people of the region to remain focused because the region has the potential in becoming one of the super regions in Ghana.

Bawku in recent times has seen peaceful coexistence between residents in and around Bawku and this is gradually restoring the lost glory of Bawku as the business center in Upper East Region and Ghana at large.

But the Upper East Regional Minister, Alhaji Hafiz Bin Salih who has devoted his journey to perform Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, is seriously praying to almighty Allah to totally restore peace in Bawku and parts of the region experiencing different forms of uneasyness and tension.

"We all know the upper east region is vast, varied and complex so as the man his Excellency has put in charge of the region, it is my prayer that through my visit to Mecca, going round the Kaaba performing Tawaf and also going to Mina to do all the Hajj Hajj pilgrimage rites, it is my fervent hope and prayer that almighty Allah will bring peace particularly to Bawku. Bawku is a dark spot in the Upper East Region and indeed Ghana, it is my prayer through the efforts and prayers of all of us that has come here, almighty Allah will touch peace in Bawku so that it will affect and reflect in the affairs of the Upper East Region", he said.

He continues " My message to the people of the Upper East Region is that, let us remain focus, the region has the potential to becoming one of the super regions of Ghana but because of the conflict, chieftaincy and land disputes, these are the things that are hindering the development of the Upper East Region but I want to use this occasion to appeal to every all and sundry to let go the past so we come together as one people with common agenda so we can bring peace and development to my beloved Upper East Region".

Alhaji Hafiz Bin Salih said, it is his hope that Allah will accept his prayers and fulfil his intentions as  he is here in Mecca to perform the last pillar of Islam after going through the other pillars of Islam.

"It is my hope and prayer that Allah the almighty will accept all my supplication and bring me closer to Allah and also Allah to forgive me all my short comings and put me on the right path of righteousness so I go back a better person to be able to serve Allah to be able as regional minister to serve the people of the upper east region who his Excellency president Akuffo Addo has put me in charge".

He said among his supplications is also to pray for Ghana to continue enjoying the peace almighty Allah has bestowed on the nation.

On 2024 general elections, Alhaji Hafiz Bin Salih prayed for a successful general elections and His Excellency the Vice President, Alhaji Dr. Mahamoud Bawumia becoming the next president of Ghana after president Akuffo Addo.

" This year is also a election year, it is my fervent hope and prayer that almighty Allah will next sober minds reflect so that we go through   the entire process with any hindrance that at the end of it, who ever the almighty Allah chooses to be our leaders and the people of Ghana will accept them and it is my prayer that almighty Allah will consider the vice president Dr Alhaji Mahamoud Bawumia who is my preferred candidate for the presidency and I pray for all and sundry".

END.

Hajj 2024: Ghana Hajj 2024 has been well organized- Former Northern regional minister

 

By Tanko Mohammed Rabiu 

Mecca

Former Northern Regional Minister, Alhaji Salifu Saeed popularly known as SS has commended and appreciated the efforts of the Ghana Hajj Board for organizing and supervising yet another successful Hajj operations irrespective of challenges associated with organizations such as Hajj pilgrimage.

The former Northern Regional Minister, speaking exclusively with an independent Hajj reporter, Tanko Mohammed Rabiu in Mecca couldn't hide his joy over the happy faces of Ghanaian Hajj Visa holders of the Ghana Hajj Board even before the start of the Hajj. According to his observations, pilgrims are satisfied with all the services rendered to them by the Hajj Board through the various service providers in Mecca and Medina.

"What I have seen and what myself is feeling is that the Hajj for 2024 has been well organised and the patronage is good, especially the Mecca team that is doing the organisation from even the citizens side, they have arranged it very well and the Ghana Hajj board especially the executive secretary, the chairman and their team are all doing their work very well", he said.

Alhaji Salifu Saeed continues "Looking at this, from the past few years, I think that every year, there is much improvement in the operations of the Hajj board and we need to appreciate the challenges  that are associated with the organisation of Hajj because because is a sensitive area which requires hard work".

Alhaji Salifu Saeed has also attributed the success to the Vice president of Ghana and flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party, for making it possible for the Hajj Board to succeed and over come any challenges as well as providing support in different ways to ensure the organization of Hajj is best among the best in the world.

According to the former Regional minister, Hajj operations will see more improvement in the Hajj industry in Ghana especially when the Vice president is a Muslim and  knows the value of Hajj in the five pillars of Islam.

He therefore urged pilgrims to see the organization of the Hajj as their responsibilities in order to further make this year's Hajj a memorable one with good testimonies for the future.

END.

Hajj 2024: Issuance of Nusuk cards to Ghanaian Pilgrims by the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Hajj and Umrah begins

 Mecca, Saudi Arabia 

By Tanko Mohammed Rabiu 

The Saudi Arabia Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has started with the issuance of the mandatory Nusuk card to Ghanaian Pilgrims currently in Mecca for this year's Hajj pilgrimage.

According to the Saudi gazette, the Nusuk pilgrim card aims to raise the efficiency of operational procedures for the upcoming Hajj season to make the pilgrimage much easier and simplified as well as to bring down instances of performing Hajj in an illegal way. It is designed to be easy to read automatically. The card facilitates Hajj workers to identify and verify the identity of each pilgrim, and also helps prevent unauthorized individuals from entering the holy sites, and thus ensuring the safety and security of all pilgrims.

The Executive Secretary of the Ghana Hajj Board Secretariate, Alhaji Farouk Hamza is also been reiterating the importance and the role the Nusuk card plays in this year's Hajj pilgrimage to Hajj board pilgrims especially when ever they are ready to be airlifted from Ghana, considering the high number of other Visa holders like the tourist, visiting, Umrah Visas who intends to use these visas to perform Hajj thus, creating an comfortable situation to Hajj Visa holders.

At one of the Ghanaian hotels housing legitimate pilgrims, officials from the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Hajj and Umrah with support of Ghana's Hajj Board officials has started with the issuance of the Nusuk cards to pilgrims ahead of the start of Hajj less than two weeks from now.

The cards when given to a pilgrim, is further verified digitally and facial recognition to authenticate the card into the data base pool. 

This process will continue until every legitimate Ghanaian Pilgrim gets his or her card.

END.