VIDEO: GHANA HAJJ 2019: TV3's DOCUMENTARY OF 2019 HAJJ

Enjoy a  six minutes and thirty seconds documentary of 2019 Hajj season by TV3's Tanko Mohammed Rabiu.

COMMENDATIONS TO HAJJ BOARD ON FAIR TREATMENT TO HAJJ REPORTERS DURING 2019 HAJJ SEASON AND THE WAYFORWARD

 Communication plays vital role in any aspect of human endeavours and contributes immensely in the socio-economic development in our communities. The pilgrims Affairs Office of Ghana and the Ghana Hajj board as a religious institution responsible in organising Hajj operations for all Hajj season, relys on good communication channels to succeed its mandates and core values. Dealing with a huge Mulsim population in Ghana and dealing with about 6,000 prospective pilgrims every year, enough information is needed to disseminate down to every intending pilgrim to be abreast with single information about the preparations towards the Hajj season.


 The main stream media since the beginning of Hajj operations in Ghana have contributed hugely to the success of Hajj operations till date though the media faced certain lapses in discharge of their duties. Most media houses through their reporters gets the opportunity to report on Hajj rituals in Saudi Arabia through the efforts of the Ghana Hajj board free of charge as part of strengthening their public relations and communications. During Hajj 2019 season, selected journalists including TV3 Hajj reporter, Tamale based Sagani TV Hajj reporter, UTV reporter, Obonu FM female reporter and other reporters were given the opportunity to report on the Hajj in Saudi Arabia including operations of the pilgrims Affairs Office of Ghana in Ghana.

 Individual Hajj reporter who took part in 2019 Hajj season in Saudi Arabia performed well in shaping the discourse of Hajj operations combining all resources available. Talking of resources and logistics to the journalists, the Hajj board has done it's best by providing decent working atmosphere for all journalists like decent accommodation in Saudi Arabia, good meals, internet facilities, allowances, transportation, access to information and good collaboration between the media and the Hajj agents.

 As a result of these incentives, accurate and well balanced information was well communicated in all the media outlets represented during the Hajj as well as other "watch dogs" media organizations who publish stories done by journalists covering the Hajj. There was a good relationship between members of the Hajj board and the pilgrim Affiars Office of Ghana at all times both in Ghana and Saudi Arabia operations. Auxiliary arms of the pilgrims Affairs Office of Ghana like the Security Assistance Team ( SAT), Accomodation committee, Finance department, welfare committee and food and refreshment committee also collaborated well with the media covering the Hajj.

 All the 2019 Hajj reporters from Ghana are therefore grateful to the Hajj board for giving them the opportunity to cover the Hajj and the fair treatment they received from the Hajj board but urging the Hajj board to improve more in order to strengthen the relationship with the media as far as Hajj coverage is concern.

 Second part of this story will focus on recommendations to the pilgrims Affairs Office of Ghana in dealing with the journalists in the main media.

END. Tanko Mohammed Rabiu/Hajjcommunications

Ghana Hajj 2019: Ghana Hajj Board commended for Security Assistance Team ( SAT) initiative

Mecca: Majority of Ghanaian Pilgrims who have succefully performed this year's Hajj in Saudi Arabia have commended the Ghana Hajj Board for its Secutity Assistance Team initiative where Muslim security personnel drawn from the various security services in Ghana are selected to provide professional security services and intelligence which includes crowd control, pilgrims security welfare, interligence gathering and many relevant aspects of security. 

The SAT undergone rigorous two weeks simulation exercise at the Bundase military camp in Accra ahead of the Hajj as part of preparations of SAT. The goal of the initiative is to ensure the safety of Ghanaian pilgrims and adhering Saudi Arabian security regulations.

Previousely, Ghanaian pilgrim's rights to certain facilities in Saudi Arabia during Hajj especially at Mina has always been taken away by Ghanaians living in Saudi Arabia who comes to perform Hajj, but with the presence of the Security Assistance team, such incidents were never recorded from last year to this year. Pilgrims safety was secured as well as their comfort wherever they find themselves during the Hajj.

The pictures displayed in this story is the weighing in of the first batch of Ghanaian pilgrims scheduled to depart to Tamale on August 26, 2019. Personnel from SAT wearing brown jackets seen in the photographs are effectively carrying out their duties which has brought serenity and orderly in executing the weighing exercise. The team will continue with this duty and other duties until all Ghanaian pilgrims are sent home by the pilgrims Affairs Office of Ghana.

END/ Tanko Mohammed Rabiu/ Hajj communications

Ghana Hajj 2019: First Batch of Ghanaian Pilgrims prepares for Departure on August 26

Mecca: Ghanaian pilgrims scheduled to depart Saudi Arabia with the first flight to Tamale are adequately preparing after confirming Thier names on the well prepared departure manifest. All Ghanaian pilgrims brought and supervised by the pilgrims Affairs office of Ghana have performed all the Hajj rituals with smooth supervision of members of the Hajj Board. About 490 pilgrims from the Northern zone of Ghana will be on the first flight via FlyNas airline With all their approved luggages going with them.

All pilgrims have so far satisfied with the arrangements and welfare treatment given them by the pilgrims Affairs Office of Ghana. Speaking with some of the pilgrims, ' in fact the food given us is up to taste and it has help us saved about $ 200 that we would have use in buying food' our hotels are very good comparing to other African countries here in Mecca and I Thank the Hajj board for this' I would like to applaud the Hajj baord for bringing the security here because our safety is secured especially how the guard the hotels is very impressive' these and many are they reactions of some pilgrims Hajjcommunications spoke to.

Second and third flight schedules have been published on pilgrims Affairs Office of Ghana's Facebook page and on advantage points at the various Hotels.

END/ Tanko Mohammed Rabiu/ Hajj communications

Ghana Hajj 2019: Ghanaian Pilgrims arrives in Mina Ahead of Arafah

Mina: pilgrims from Ghana have since arrived in Mina City of the Tent ahead of Arafah which is the pillar of Hajj and one of the most important ritual of Hajj. All pilgrims are in state of Irham With the intention of Hajj and in a state of purity towards the attainment of mercy from Allah here in this world and the hereafter. With the assistance of officials of pilgrims Affairs Office of Ghana and the security Assistance team, have evacuated all Ghanaian pilgrims to Mina in comfortable buses and their arrival at Mina Ghana camp 43 and 44 was given the same attention and no incident of pilgrim lost and inconveniences was recorded.

All the important institutions of the Hajj board have been strategically placed for the full comfort of Pilgrims at the various Tents within the camp and notable departments are medical team clinics, communications Center, Hajj agents auditorium, officials room, welfare desk and many others.

Pilgrims will be convened again tomorrow August 10, 2019 to Arafah, Mudzalifah and back to Mina/ Jamarat respectively.

END/ Tanko Mohammed Rabiu/ Hajj Communications

Ghana Hajj 2019: Communications and Dawah committee Rounds-Up education for the start of Hajj

Mecca: Exactly two days to the start of Hajj 2019, the communications department and the Dawah committee of the Pligrims Affairs Office of Ghana have completed the first phase of the pre- Hajj education to Ghanaian Hujajs ( Pilgrims) in Mecca ahead of the all important ritual of Hajj which is Arafah. Pilgrims across the globe participating in this year's hajj will leave the comfort of their hotels to Mina ( City of the Tent) on Friday August 9, 2019 to spend the night and leave for Arafah the next day.

The leadership of the Dawah committee and the deputy communications director Alhaji Eliasu Haruna with his media team including TV3, Sagani TV, UTV, Alpha Radio and a host of Ghanaian media were present to give public prominence to the event. Key among messages is the importance of Being at Arafah and the conditions for women performing Hajj in their monthly periods. These messages were verbally communicated in different Ghanaian languages like Dagbani, Waala, Twi and  adopted English language to the full understanding of pilgrims.

All logistics for the journey to Mina and back is ready and a big chank of it already in Mina according to the deputy communications director Alhaji Eliasu Haruna. The media and the Dawah committee have also pledged their continues committment and dedication in informing and educating pilgrims on every aspect of the Hajj.

END/Tanko Mohammed Rabiu/ Hajj Communications

Ghana Hajj 2019: Dawa committee schools pilgrims ahead of Arafah

Mecca: The Dawa committee of the pilgrims Affairs Office of Ghana are currently visiting Ghanaian pilgrims in their various Hotels educating them on the rituals of Hajj especially how to prepare for Arafah day which is the most important ritual of Hajj. Members of the Dawa team have been dispatch to all the Hotels Ghanian pilgrims reside in order to make it easy for all pilgrims to have first hand information on Hajj performance.

Sheikh Osman Abubakar and Sheikh Waala Labilabil have sensitised pilgrims at Hotel house number Eight with full cooperation from the pilgrims as they listened with seriousness. Most of the pilgrims present took advantage to ask few questions regarding the rituals of hajj.

Come August 9, 2019 this coming Friday, all Hujajs ( Pilgrims) from all participating countries here in Saudi Arabia will move to Mina and spend the night ahead of Arafah on Saturday August 10, 2019 follows by rituals of Muzdalifa and Jamarat immediately after Arafah.

The pilgrims Affairs Office of Ghana has putting into place a strong mechanism that will ensure all Ghanaian pilgrims meet all the rituals of Hajj including being at Arafah irrespective of ones physical, mental or psychological state.

END/Tanko Mohammed Rabiu/ Hajj communications 

Ghana Hajj 2019: Host community welcomes Ghanaian Pilgrims

Mecca: Residents of Nozha, a suburb of Mecca where Ghanaian Pilgrims are accommodated in several Hotels have officially welcomed Ghanaian Pilgrims to their community. Over the years, pilgrims from Ghana resides in Nozha due to the cerenity of the place and hospitable nature of Saudi residents. The leadership of the Nozha community led by Nasir Al Nehebi extended a warm welcome on behalf of the community to the Ghanaian pilgrims at the Al Raies hotel. Nasir Al Nehebi applauded Ghanaian pilgrims for their peaceful nature and co-existence with residents of Nozha. He encouraged Ghanaian pilgrims to continue with good behaviour so as to attain the full reward of performing Hajj. 

He thanked the pilgrims Affairs office of Ghana for always choosing their community as their residence as well as the full cooperation the community recieves from the pilgrims affairs office of Ghana. 

Other members of the Nozha community present at the forum took time to educate the Ghanaian pilgrims on health issues and security as far as this year's Hajj is concern.

END/Tanko Mohammed Rabiu/ Hajj communications

Ghana Hajj 2019: Dawa committee educates pilgrims on Hajj and related activities

Mecca: The Dawa committee of the pilgrims Affairs Office of Ghana made up of about ten Islamic scholars are currently educating Ghanaian pilgrims on hajj including the significance of performing Hajj, the role of pilgrim in welfare management, respect for the aged in all aspect of Hajj rituals and many more. The education is in different languages including Hausa, Dagbani, Gonja, wale and many Ghaianian languages. The response is very impressive as over 1000 pilgrims have attended the sermon at the time of this report.

The Dawa Committee members at the program are Sheikh Suala Kawait

,Sheikh Abubakar Osman,

Sheikh Osman Yambe

,Sheikh Samudeen ,Mohammed Iddris

Shielh Saad Abubakar Maiga.

END/ Tanko Mohammed Rabiu/ Hajj Communications

photos: Ghana Hajj 2019: fifth batch leaves for Mecca

 The fifth batch of Ghanaian pilgrims are leaving Medina to Mecca for the Hajj rituals starting with Umrah at the Madjid Haram. Above and below are the pictures of their departure from their various hotels in Medina.

END/ Tanko Mohammed Rabiu/hajj communications

Video: Ghana Hajj 2019: last batch Northern Pilgrims airlifted to Saudi Arabia

Photos: Ghana Hajj 2019: first batch of Ghanaian Pilgrims Completes Umrah ( Lesser Hajj)

The First batch of Ghanaian Pilgrims who left Medina Yesterday, have completed their Umrah ( lesser Hajj) at the Masjid Haram in Mecca. Other Ghanaian Pilgrims are expected to arrive in Mecca today.

END/ Tanko Mohammed Rabiu/ hajj communications. Blogspot.com