By Tanko Mohammed Rabiu
The Director of Communications of the Ghana Hajj Board, Alhaji Abdul Rahman Gomda has revealed that, all is set for the airlift of Ghanaian Pilgrims to Saudi Arabia for this year's Hajj pilgrimage as every department of the board is ready up and doing in the overall operations.
Alhaji Gomda was the guest on the Islamic program on GTV dubbed 'Islam and Life' as part of the Hajj Board's media engagement prior to the start of the first phase of this year's Hajj operations starting in the Northern Regional capital of Tamale. Basically and primarily, the interaction is based on the preparations of this year's Hajj operations which comes with new innovations and improvements in the executions of each department of the operations.
The Director of Communications indicated the readiness of all stakeholders in the Hajj operations and how committed they are to put up their best in achieving yet another successful Hajj operations.
Alhaji Gomda explains that, the instability in Sudan will affect the travel hours the aircraft makes from Ghana to Saudi Arabia because there will be a rerouting to avoid passing through Sudan and that all arrangements in this regard is completed.
On the issue of effectiveness of the operations, Alhaji Gomda opined that, digitilization has been the pivot mechanism in running the affairs of the board right from payments of Hajj fares, general information on the operations, documentations, agents identification and other important data are found on the mobile phone application and some soficicated softwares used by the IT department and these has helped in making things possible for the Hajj Board.
Alhaji Gomda outlined the significance of the pilgrim orientation which started last year to every pilgrim especially those who do not have any idea on how to perform Hajj. The orientation also gives an opportunity for the medical team to screen and diagnose prospective pilgrims who may have serious health conditions to prepare them for the Holy journey. He said the orientation for this year will kick start in earnest to prepare pilgrims spiritually, mentally and physically.
On meals for Ghanaian pilgrims, he reassured Ghanaians of the usual provision of Ghanaian local dishes to pilgrims in the two daily meals schedules for Ghanaian pilgrims during the Hajj season as a way of respecting their food taste preference.
In general, Alhaji Gomda said every services needed to make Ghanaian pilgrims comfortable are ready including the usual high standard accommodation, exotic buses, stay in Mina ( Masha'ir') and all the other services.
The Non- Hajj Visa holders infiltration which Alhaji Gomda described as ' gate Crashers' will be well controlled to ease the pressure in Mina and to also protect the pilgrims in Mecca at all Ghana Hajj Board establishments and that every check point towards Mecca is currently on lock down for these gate Crashers.
Alhaji Gomda has revealed that, starting from next year, every non- Hajj Visa applicant will sign an undertaken before the Visa is issued and the applicant must comply which is to immediately leave Mecca after exhausting the Visa timeline and all these is another measure to end the infiltration by the gate Crashers.
He therefore urged prospective pilgrims or any potential pilgrim to stay away from shallantants who goes round deceiving innocent people to help them travel for Hajj pilgrimage.
End.
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