BOLGATANGA, GHANA: PROSPECTIVE 2019 HAJJ PILGRIMS GIVEN SPECIAL SERVICES AT THE BIRTH AND DEATH REGISTRY

SAMPLE OF GHANAIAN BIRTH CERTIFICATE

March 13, 2019

One of the requirements for any prospective pilgrim in Ghana to perform Hajj in Saudia Arabia is to acquire a valid travelling passport with a valid VISA on it. Acquiring the passport also has its requirements and the most important of the requirement is a genuine birth certificate in determining one’s citizenship or nationality.

Every year, thousands of prospective pilgrims in Ghana missed the opportunity to embark on Hajj as a result of lack of valid birth certificate to acquire a passport and are sometimes late in the registration of the certificates.

The pilgrim’s affairs office of Ghana since 2017 entered into a memorandum of understanding with the passport office, birth and deaths registry and other stakeholders to strengthen Hajj operations in Ghana and in the Saudi Arabia. The issue of pilgrims not getting their birth certificates and passports in time generating tensions and anxiety at both passport and birth and death offices was minimized through the efforts of the pilgrims affairs office of Ghana though the previous administration also did their best in this regard.

The birth and deaths registry in the upper east region is given special services to prospective pilgrims in the region to acquire valid birth certificates to enable them get their passports in time due to limited time given by the pilgrim’s affairs office of Ghana. According to the birth and death registry in Bolgatanga, from January to the beginning of March, about 30 prospective pilgrims have so far had their birth certificate from the registry within ten working days due to the relationship with the pilgrims affairs office of Ghana and the numbers likely to hit 200 before the first flight leaves for Saudi Arabia for the Hajj.

NEW BIRTH AND DEATH UPPER EAST REGIONAL REGISTRY OFFICE COMPLEX

The deputy Upper East Regional birth and death officer, Mr. Mohammed Sumaila, said is the responsibility of the registry to ensure every Ghanaian acquire birth certificate irrespective of one’s religion, political affiliation and gender for a good national data. Mr. Mohammed reaffirmed the readiness of his outfit in giving good services to prospective pilgrims to meet the Visa deadline. Our office is open to all prospective pilgrims in the upper east region and we are assuring them of quick services due to the importance of the Holy exercise to every Muslim” he lamented. All what we expect from the prospective pilgrims is for them to come and register in time not to wait until Ramadan (Fasting) season” he added.

Majority of prospective pilgrims in the upper east region for the past one decade, travelled to Accra for birth certificates and is a big burden to them both financial and stress. With the special services at the regional birth and death registry in Bolgatanga, acquiring birth certificate is now easy and stress free provided the client has valid requirements.

By Tanko Mohammed Rabiu|Hajjcommunications.blogspot.com

+233207788616/rabiutanko@hotmail.com