Ashanti Regional Hajj Committee inaugurated in Kumasi

A 10-member committee tasked with the responsibility of co-ordinating the activities of the Muslim community in the Ashanti Region for a successful organisation of the 2008/2009 Hajj pilgrimage was inaugurated in Kumasi at the weekend.

The committee has Mr Mohammed Tajjudeen, as Chairman, Sheikh Zakariya Mensah, Vice-chairman, Mr Ahmed Boadi, Secretary, Mr Yusus Boadi, Organiser and Hajia Sanni Rahmat, Treasurer.

Speaking at the ceremony, Sheikh Mohammed Kamil, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the National Hajj Council (NHC), said his outfit was committed to ensuring a successful organisation of the Hajj exercise this year.

He therefore implored Muslims to bury their differences and be supportive of activities of the Council.

Sheikh Kamil condemned efforts of some government Muslim officials to involve some politicians in the exercise and said, in view of the difficulties previous pilgrimages had gone through, “it is imperative that the next hajj is designed devoid of interference from any quarters”.

He called on government to hasten investigations it had commenced into the activities of the Interim Hajj Management Committee (IHMC) in the 2007/2008 pilgrimage, which was plagued with malpractices and malfeasance.

He said this would help 'those elements' who embezzled monies of pilgrims to be brought to book to serve as deterrent to those who intend to dupe prospective pilgrims.

Alhaji Alhassan Ibn Ibrahim, an Islamic opinion leader, charged the regional committee members to be transparent and accountable in their activities to justify the confidence reposed in them.

Mr Tajjudeen on behalf of the committee, pledged to work hard in collaboration with all stakeholders to ensure that the next hajj became problem-free.