Muslim groups happy over 2019 Hajj fee
Muslim Groups Ghana has commended the government and the Hajj Board
Chairman, Sheikh I.C. Quaye for arriving at a reasonable fare of 19,500
Ghana Cedis for the 2019 Hajj operations.
According to them, they are comfortable and appreciative of steps taken
by the Akufo-Addo led government to make travelling for Hajj Pilgrimage
much easier, comfortable and affordable.
The Muslim Groups Ghana includes Muslim Women Groups Hajj Research,
Zongo Broadcasters Live, Hajj Media Voice and Northerners and Zongo
Concern Youths Association Ghana.
In an interview with the National Coordinator of the groups, Alhaji
Abubakar Galaxy on whether or not the 2019 Hajj package will favour the
would-be, he said despite the huge increments by the Saudi Arabia
Authorities in charge of Hajj affairs, the Board led by Sheikh I.C Quaye
and the government were able to arrive at 19,500 Ghana Cedis, which to
them is reasonable.
He said due to a research conducted by the Ghana Hajj Research over
which price the hajj board will announce for prospective pilgrims for
this year’s Hajj, it emerged that what Ghanaian pilgrims would be paying
is quiet on the low side considering what others will pay in other
countries.
He revealed that Ghana is the only country with the lowest hajj fare as
compared to other Africa Countries and the world at large.
Alhaji Galaxy revealed that upon their research the amount should have
been much higher than what the board announced over the weekend, but
added that the Hajj board has been much considerate to Ghanaian Muslims.
According to him, the current hajj board has encountered many challenges
intense of taxations and new policies which led to the increments of
this year’s hajj adding that transportation fare was increased by over
200%, accommodation, increased fare in Mina and Arafat fees as well as
the introduction of VAT on all services.
These and many others, he indicated have compelled the Hajj Board to
increase the fare for this year’s pilgrimage as compared to that of 2017
and 2018.
He said under the leadership of Sheikh I.C Quaye, many things have been
added to the Hajj package which includes free feeding in Madina, Makkah
for over a month for all Ghanaian pilgrims which will help to cushion
the expenses of pilgrims.
Meanwhile, Alhaji Galaxy expressed his displeasure over how the current
Hajj Board under the leadership of Sheikh I. C Quaye has been under many
attacks by faceless people in an efforts to sabotage and remove him out
of office.
According to him, the announcement of the Hajj package has triggered the
faceless saboteurs to unleash their bid in ensuring the removal of
Sheikh I.C Quaye.
Alhaji Galaxy further revealed that this faceless group is planning to
stage a demonstration against the hajj board Chairman over this year’s
fare and as well, issue a press statement to make the chairman and the
Hajj Board unpopular.
He called on the so-call group to do proper checks and research before
coming out to criticize the Hajj Chairman and government over this
year’s package and wonder why people will play a tribal card with holy
institution like hajj by sabotaging the Chairman to pave way for their
preferred candidate.
According to him, the actions from these groups of people nearly compel
the Saudi Arabia Authorities in charge of Hajj to blacklist Ghana from
performing the 2017 Hajj.
“But it took the intervention of Sheikh I.C Quaye and President Nana
Akufo-Addo led administration to rescue the situation to avoid sanctions
from the Saudi Authorities.
However, many Muslim Clerics from different sects and organizations have
commended the Hajj Board led by Sheikh I.C Quaye for ensuring a
successful hajj operation in the previous years.
These Clerics described Sheikh I.C Quaye as the best hajj board Chairman
in the history of hajj affairs in Ghana and prayed that he continues to
do his very best to ensure another successful hajj this year.
According to the Clerics, Sheikh I.C Quaye is the only hajj board
Chairman who was able to airlift all passengers to the Kingdom of Saudi
Arabia and fed the pilgrims with three square meal each day, which
reduced greater burden on pilgrims.
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