2024 Hajj Fares

Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam and the most significant manifestation of Islamic faith and unity in the world. It’s observed by the Muslim Ummah worldwide once a year in Dhul al-Hijja, the twelfth and last month of the year in the Islamic calendar. Yesterday, 24th January 2024, the National Hajj Board, Ghana, pegged the 2024 Hajj fares at Gh75,000 or a dollar equivalent of $6250. Over the seven years, Ghanaian Muslims have been grappling with exorbitant hajj fares, especially when compared to the amount paid by their counterparts in the subregion, partly due to the poor performance of the local currency (Cedi) against the dollar in the exchange market.

Although the current NPP government, under the leadership of President Nana Akufo Addo-Bawumia, made so much noise about hajj fares when they were in opposition, especially regarding currency exchange rates at the time, hajj fares since 2017 till date, hajj has been costly for Ghanaian Muslims. Between 2011 and 2016, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and other known NPP leaders, such as Alhaji TB Damba, Dr Mohammed Amin Anther (MP for Karaga), Mustapha Hameed (NPA boss) among others, went around Zango communities and chastised the previous NDC government over the hajj fares at the time.

They claimed that the previous NDC government could not manage the economy well, which resulted in the depreciation of the cedi against the dollar and other major trading currencies at the time. The NPP, via Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, as then running mate to Nana Akufo Addo, promised to ensure that, when given power as a Muslim Vice President of Ghana under an NPP government, they were going to manage the economy so well that hajj fares would become cheaper due to the appreciation of the cedi against the dollar and other major trading currencies. But since 2017, every promise Dr. Mahamudu Bawuwia made to the Zango communities and the Muslim Ummah in the country turned out to be the opposite. For the avoidance of doubt, let me walk you down the memory lane on Hajj fares since 2009.

Hajj Fares under 8 years of NPP

2024 - $6250 - Gh75,000
2023 - $6500 - Ghc75,000
2022 - $5000 - Ghc39,000
2021 - Covid19-No Hajj
2020 - Covid19-No Hajj
2019 - $3500 - Ghc19,000
2018 - $3450 - Ghc15,000
2017 - $3450 - Ghc15,000

Hajj Fares under 8 years of NDC

2016 - $3450 - Ghc11,900
2015 - $3450 - Ghc11,900
2014 - $3450 - Ghc12,000
2013 - $3450 - Ghc6,800 
2012 - $3100  - Ghc5,200
2011 -  $3100  - Ghc4,650
2010 - $3,100 - Ghc2,139
2009 - $3000 - Ghc2,010

When Dr Mahamaudu Bawumia, the NPP 2024 flagbearer or his assigns (NPP) come to any Zango community in the country to do any religious politics ahead of the December elections, please stop him or them in their tracks, tell them that Zango communities and the Muslim Ummah in the country have had enough of their deceit, from the failed Zango development fund to the unfulfilled 16-model SHS in Zango communities across the country and counting. From the above, it is evident that the increment rate in hajj fares under the past NDC government was far better than today's situation.

Apart from the affordable Hajj fares under the previous NDC governments, Muslim pilgrims for the first time flew from Tamale International Airport straight to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj in September 2016 due to the construction of the first phase of the Tamale International Airport under President Mahama's government. Hitherto, potential Muslim pilgrims from northern Ghana used to travel several hundreds of kilometers to El-Wak stadium (Hajj Village) in Accra under very deplorable and dehumanizing conditions to fly to Makka.

Thankfully, President Mahama is once again seeking the mandate of the good people of Ghana to come and finish his good works for the good people of Ghana, including the Muslim Ummah. It is only fair and proper to remind fellow Ghanaians, especially our brothers and sisters in the Zango communities across the country, to be wary of the consequences of their choices in December this year as Ghana once again goes to the polls. I am not a spectator Muslim. 

Dr Baba Musah
[email protected]