Hajj Village to open to pilgrims on September 27th

Accra, Sept 22, GNA – Alhaji Alhassan Benne, Chairman of the National Hajj Committee, Ghana, has disclosed that the newly constructed Hajj Village at the Kotoka International Airport area would on Thursday 27th September be opened to pilgrims of this year's Hajj.

He said the village would be restricted to only the pilgrims, the Hajj Task Force and Operation Officers, Customs and Immigration Officers and Officers of the Hajj Committee, who would be performing their duties in compliance with the security agencies.

Alhaji Benne, who was speaking with the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Friday, said preparations on the 2012 Hajj were far advanced and that Government and the Committee were committed to ensuring that pilgrims were timely airlifted to go and perform their religious rites.

He said the first batch of pilgrims would depart from Ghana on September 29th to Madina Saudi Arabia, adding, “This year after the first batch, there will be a daily flight that will carried pilgrims till 12th October which would be the last flight.”

Alhaji Benne said that the National Democratic Congress Government was committed to the welfare of Muslims in the country and that all of measures was put in place to avoid the inconveniences of pilgrims.

He said pilgrims from the Northern, Upper East and West regions would be flying from the Tamale Airport as was promise by President John Dramani Mahama to reduce the burden and pressure on officials at the Hajj village.

Alhaji Benne appealed to pilgrims to be law abiding and comply with the security agencies at the Hajj village to protect lives and property.

He also cautioned the pilgrims to desist from carrying illegal materials which were not allowed by the international aviation systems, adding “Ghana is known in Africa as the beacon of democracy and that should reflect on the citizenry internationally as law abiding citizens.”

The Hajj Village has been relocated from the Elwalk Stadium to the Kotoka International Airport, after an Allied Air, Boeing 727-200 cargo plane operated by a Nigeria company crashed during landing at the former Hajj village.

GNA