Hajj blues: Ghanaian pilgrims to stay longer

Ghanaian pilgrims to this year's Hajj Pilgrimage to Mecca, have another challenge to contend with after reaching Saudi Arabia.

The pilgrims who have had to endure about a week's delay over flight problems in Ghana, and were eventually flown to Jeddah in batches after the Ghana government intervened and secured flights for them, would have to wait a bit longer before they return to Ghana.

The last batch of the pilgrims flew out of Ghana on Monday 17th December, 2007 after an agreement had been secured with the Saudi authorities to extend the period of closure of the Jeddah airport so the Ghanaian pilgrims could land.

After reaching Mecca and performing pilgrimage, the Saudi authorities have asked the about 3000 Ghanaian pilgrims to stay on for at least 35 days, and after pilgrims from other countries have left Saudi Arabia before they could return.

Speaking to Joy News, Ghana's Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Rashid Bawa, said because Ghanaian pilgrims went to Jeddah under different circumstances after the closure period of the Jeddah airport had elapsed, they would have to wait till pilgrims from all other countries have left Saudi Arabia.

According to the Ambassador, the Saudi authorities would have to arrange a schedule for the Ghanaians which should not affect the departure plans of other nationals who arrived in Jeddah on time.