Dissolve Hajj board – Bandoh

Alhaji Ahmed Bandoh, Chief Executive of Bahmed Travel & Tours has called for the immediate dissolution of the Hajj Board, only hours after the pilgrims have been flown to Jeddah.

He said the board has failed to discharge its duties to perfection and should give way for competent people to handle the affairs of the would-be pilgrims next year.

Alhaji Bandoh told the GNA: “The board has exhibited gross incompetence and must therefore not be tolerated. Those who also took money from some of the pilgrims with a false pledge to help them must also be prosecuted to serve as a deterrent in future”.

He said a lasting solution could be found for the travellers to Mecca only when tough decisions were taken to ensure the issue of flight difficulties that has recently bedeviled the trip became a thing of the past.

The Travel and Tours operator expressed his willingness to airlift pilgrims to Mecca next year with or without the help of any individual or body in his quest to assists his religious folks get their hearts' desire.

“I'm prepared to airlift the pilgrims to Mecca next year. As a faithful Muslim, I have a responsibility to help my brothers and sisters to get to that one destination, which helps solidify our inner strength to fight against oppression and suppression.

“I have rendered similar services to Christians to Israel for religious purposes, why can't I do the same for my own folks whose biggest desire is to fulfill a sacred belief”.

He expressed the hope that together with business tycoon, Alhaji Asuman Bandah, the desire to halt the recurrence of the plight of the pilgrims next year would be achievable.

Hundreds of pilgrims travelling to Jeddah to perform the Holy Pilgrimage in Mecca had been stranded for ten days.

The pilgrims stayed at the Aviation Social Centre under refugee conditions during the period following the inability of the Hajj Committee to secure flights for them.