Ghanaian Hujajs ( Pilgrims) under the supervision and organisation of the pilgrims Affairs Office of Ghana of the Ghana Hajj Board are living in a well arranged and prepared facilities with the highest respect for every human being for Hajj 2022 in Saudi Arabia specifically Medina and Mecca.
Many countries participating in this year's Hajj had one way or the other faced some challenges organising the Hajj due to the post COVID-19 pandemic Hajj operations which came with some financial burden on participating countries including Ghana. Despite the financial burden on Hajj missions, Ghana Hajj Board was able to overlook these challenges and still airlift half of its pilgrims from the Tamale international airport with the collaboration and partnership with other stakeholders like the Ghana airport company, Ghana Immigration service, Ghana airforce, the official airline service provider and others who made this operation a success.
Prior to the airlifting of the first flight of Ghanaian pilgrims to Medina, several groups in the country and individuals who did not understand the operations of Hajj and what is involved, took the streets and the internet space to create unpleasant anxiety, failed even at the time the first batch of Ghanaian pilgrims were airborne to Saudi Arabia, were still seen demonstrating. After realizing the success of the operations by the Ghana Hajj board in meeting with their flight schedules, the dentening image of the Hajj Board by these groups varnished naturally and forgotten.
The joyful atmosphere that greeted the Tamale international airport immediately the aircraft carrying the pilgrims was enormous as tears of joy from the families of the pilgrims watered the dried fields around the Tamale airport.
The first batch of the pilgrims from Tamale were Royally received by the Hajj board's advance team together with the Ghana Embassy in Saudi Arabia led by the Ambassador, His Excellency Alhaji Habib Tijani and other officials of the Embassy.
Pilgrims especially first timers were astonished and amazed with the type of facilities that received them in Medina in a serene and spiritual environment of an accommodation that is closer to the resting place of the Holy Prophet Mohammed S.A.W which is the Masjid Nabawi.
Ghanaian pilgrims just have to come down from their rooms, and within 45 seconds to 5 minutes, the pilgrims are inside the Prophet's Mosque which is a dream of every pilgrim visiting City of Medina.
Food and other consumables are in abundance for the consumption of Ghanaian pilgrims, all in the special arrangements by the Ghana Hajj board.
The buses that carried the pilgrims from Medina to Mecca all through Umrah were exotic and comfortable in their new statues.
The Dawah committee members have and are still aiding the pilgrims to perform their Umrah and other rituals as expected of them in order for the pilgrims to attain the full benefit and blessings of embarking on this Holy journey.
From close observations, the entire pilgrims are physically fit awaiting the start of this year's Hajj and is all with the support of the medical team of the Hajj board who have devoted their energies in making sure every pilgrim is healthy to perform the Hajj though some have recovered from the "change of Evironment" syndrome after arriving and performing the Umrah.
"It was a different feeling I had when embarking on this journey but Alhamdulilahi Alhamdulilahi am satisfied with the arrangements so far. We eat good food with drinks and fruits given to us by the officials of the board. We are thankful to Hajj board". A pilgrim said.
"In fact, what we are seeing is beyond what we paid as Hajj fares, whaaat, this is amazing and worth of praise to the organizers of this year's Hajj. I pray Allah strengthens their fate in doing more for Ghana" A pilgrim confesses.
" What I can say is that, my Hajj is going to be accepted by Allah because am at peace to myself looking at the welfare and love extended to us by the Hajj board in the area of Accommodation, meals, health and transportation" A female pilgrim has said.
The second phase of the airlifting of Ghanaian pilgrims is expected to begin from the Kotoka international airport in Accra on June 30, 2022 with an improved operations than that of what happened in Tamale which was even described as satisfactory.
The grounds operation team of the board are already pitching camp at the King Abdul Aziz international airport in Medina waiting to receive and usher in pilgrims from Accra.
Hajj communications/ Tanko Mohammed Rabiu
