Ghanaian Pilgrims Laud Hajj Chair … Over Improvement in Hajj Operations

Ghanaian Hajj pilgrims in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have described the 2014 hajj operations as one of the best and smoothest operation Ghanaian Muslims have witnessed since its inception.

The pilgrims further commend the chairman Hon. Abdul-Rauf Tanko Ibrahim and the committee over a massive improvement in the ongoing hajj pilgrimage in Mecca (Saudi Arabia) adding that 2013 was successful but 2014 has improved massively.

The pilgrims made the assertion when the Ghana Palaver went round to solicit views of pilgrims concerning the performance of the committee; the pilgrims stated that the committee and its stakeholders (the agents) have this year discharge their duties diligently by ensuring a successful hajj.

The pilgrims expressed their confidence in the committee Chairman over the arrangements he put in place to ensure a very smooth journey and congestion free both in Ghana and Saudi Arabia.

The pilgrims revealed that 2013 and 2014 hajj operations have being a great historic years Ghanaian Muslims would always remember. The pilgrims added that the Chairman has also ensured that the perennial difficulties that pilgrims go through during hajj pilgrimage became a thing of the past.

According to the pilgrims the chairman Hon.Abdul-Rauf Tanko Ibrahim the cordial relationship between the hajj accredited agents and the pilgrims at the hajj village is what has made the operation successful which according to them has taken the Ghana Hajj Operation to the next level.

''the chairman and his communication are always with us to know our problems whenever we need their assistance” the pilgrims noted. On sanitation the pilgrims revealed that the committee has improved massively in dealing with sanitation in the hajj village.

This they said came as a result of measures which were put in place to educate pilgrims and vendors on cleanliness as well as the presence of Zoomlion workers at the hajj village.

Briefing the media earlier in Ghana on its achievements and challenges, the Chairman of the National Hajj Committee (NHC) Hon. Abdul-Rauf Tanko Ibrahim reiterated the 2014 hajj operations has been successful and has witnessed massive improvement.

He revealed that the committee has successfully airlifted 5,326 pilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to perform this year's hajj pilgrimage, adding the committee was able to airlift 33 leftovers who paid and did not make it last year but comply with the second option which allows the committee to keep their money for next hajj operation.

On challenges confronting the committee, the chairman indicated that the committee has a lot of challenges in issuing out passports for pilgrims who did not have ECOWAS passport as well as delayed payment by a number of the pilgrims.

37 were leftover due to late payment, passport rejection and unavailability of passport even after payment as well as questionable particulars.