Hajj 2009: So far, so good!
For the first time in several years, it looks like Ghanaian Muslims would have a hassle-free pilgrimage this year.
The first batch of two hundred and sixty six pilgrims left the Kotoka International Airport(KIA) on board an Egypt Air flight early this week for Jeddah and then to the religious capital of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, for their pilgrimage.
Theirs was the 'advance party' of about 3000 Ghanaian Muslims expected to perform this year's Hajj.
Vice President, John Dramani Mahama was at the airport to see off the pilgrims and wished them Godspeed.
He said it was the wish of the government for them to have a very smooth and successful pilgrimage. Obviously learning from past mistakes, both the Hajj organizers and government have been at pains to seal all, or at least, the major loopholes that made former pilgrimages such a nightmare for Ghanaian Muslims.
The Vice President has been singled out for praise by many Muslims for his efforts at making this year's Hajj a trouble-free one.
Being a Christian himself, Vice President Mahama has been very instrumental in getting the Hajj off to a good start this year, but he has also acknowledged the roles played by others like National Chief Imam, Sheikh Usmanu Nuhu Sharubutu, as well as the chairman of the Hajj Committee, the management of Egypt Air and a number of other stake-holders.
When he was seeing off the first batch, he told the pilgrims about their own responsibilities too, like carrying enough money on them to make their stay in the holy land as comfortable as possible. The Hajj committee has recommended a minimum of US$700.
Speaking to newsmen, Alhaji Inusa Abdulai Fuseini, Member of Parliament for Tamale Central, said many Muslims were of the belief that some form of assistance from the state would solve the problems that Muslim pilgrims had to go through every year.
"We are very thankful to the government for its immense support towards this year's Hajj", he said.
At the Hajj Village, sited around the Elwak Sports Stadium, conditions have been improved greatly over previous years and pilgrims now have comfortable and well secured premises.
They are provided with comfortable tents fitted with air conditioners and comfortable beddings, as well as hygienic washrooms. Also available are health posts, and neat eating places. The security of the village has not also been left to chance and there is a robust military and police presence.
Pilgrims go through all their travel formalities at the Hajj Village and do not have to wait at the village for more than a day before emplaning.
Airport officials have told newsmen that they have not encountered any major problem yet and things are proceeding smoothly. The pilgrims attending this year's Hajj are expected to be airlifted in batches of about 260 on a daily bases.
In the past, Ghanaian Hajj had been fraught with problems, with many pilgrims often having to return home even after paying huge sums of money to agents.
Pilgrims had to sleep in the open and went for days without serious personal hygiene being seen to and exposed to the activities of criminals because of the lack of any form of security.
Typically, pilgrims would be stranded with practically no information on their travel arrangements and became a nuisance and an eyesore in the general area of the international airport.
Should all the pilgrims be airlifted successfully to the holy land, all eyes would be on their return, which has its own peculiar logistical problems, but so far, so good.
A Mail Report