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GHC31 Million Debt Was Incurred By Previous Hajj Board

By Ajarfor Emmanuel Abugri
Headlines GHC31 Million Debt Was Incurred By Previous Hajj Board
AUG 18, 2018 LISTEN

The Chairman of the Hajj Board Sheikh I. C. Quaye said a debt of ₵31million incurred by the previous administration headed by Alhaji Abdul RaufTanko Ibrahim has been cleared.

He noted that the debt which was created by the previous administration within two years has been paid to the banks.

Sheikh claimed that the previous administration failed to refund monies to some pilgrims they failed to take to Mecca in 2016 including other unjustified expenditures.

According to him, the NPP Government intervened and facilitated the pilgrimage of 432 people who were not lifted to Mecca in 2016.

“As I speak now, we don’t owe any bank, company or individual. Anybody who thinks he or she paid last year and this year but not taken to Mecca should come for a refund. We don’t owe anybody,” he intimated.

He added that they lobbied the government to absorb Gh₵4,500 of the cost per head reducing it from Gh₵19,500 to Gh₵15,000 for this year.

Sheikh I.C. Quaye said this at a news conference in Accra to give an account of the 2017 Hajj preparations and an update of this year’s pilgrimage to Mecca.

Security Arrangement
He indicated that the only hitch which disrupted last year’s preparations was the invasion of Ghana’s camping site at Mina by Ghanaian immigrants, both resident and non-resident in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Gulf Region and abroad.

The Chairman added that the pilgrims got stranded as a result of the invasion by 500 people who intruded and occupied designated tenants for Ghanaians even before they arrived.

According to him, the experience of last year’s pilgrimage has inspired them to send security apparatus to maintain and safeguard all the hotels, camps and tents designed for Ghanaian pilgrims even before they arrive.

“Upon the advice of the Minister of Hajj and Umrah the Hajj Board requested peacekeeping security men and women to accompany this year's pilgrims for the Hajj. The general duty of the security personnel shall include the safeguarding of our camp in Mina and Arafat, maintenance of peace and order and all security-related matters,” he stated.

Accommodation
ShiekhI.C.Quaye indicated that the last year 2017 the Board experienced a peculiar challenge with accommodation. The hotels were all not in the same enclave but rather scattered in different areas. This posed a challenge in communication, mobilization and rendering of services.

He said this year 13 hotels have been rented for a total of 5, 500 pilgrims in the same locality. The capacities range of hotels to pilgrims will be done according to agents and supervised by our accompanying security officers from 400 to 900 rooms.

“Allocation and assigning rooms are self-contained. Facilities are in good condition and meet the standards set by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in Saudi Arabia. The rooms are spacious, airconditioned and carpeted,” he posited.

According to the Chairman of the Hajj Board, Pilgrims will be fed twice daily throughout their stay in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia as mandated by the Saudi Authorities.

Quota Matters
Sheikh I.C. Quaye noted that Ghana's quota in 2017 was 5,424 pilgrims but upon request, it was increased to 6,000 with 75 officials.

He posited that due to domestic pressures an additional 197 slots wererequested through the Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The appeal was approved raising the total number of pilgrims to 6,200. The effect of exceedingour quota coupled with the huge numbers of infiltrators in Saudi created the herculean challenge of space.

According to him, this year’s quota was pegged at 5400 and vowed not to engage in any last-minute add-ons.

According to him, 2640 pilgrims were lifted from Tamale by 10 flights while 3,096 took off in Accra by 12 flights.

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