By Albert Allotey
Accra, March 14, GNA – The National Executive Council of the Coalition of Muslim Organisations, Ghana (COMOG) has commended the management of Hajj for making pilgrimage more convenient, accessible, and affordable for Ghanaian Muslims.
“As leadership, we felt relieved when we learnt that the Hajj package has been reduced by 2,120 dollars. This significant decrease is a welcome development.”
A statement signed by Hajj Abdel-Manan Abdel-Rahman, President, COMOG and copied to the Ghana News Agency has said.
It urged all Ghanaians intending to perform Hajj to patronise the official Hajj management system in Ghana.
The statement said, “This will ensure a safe and legitimate journey, avoiding the risk associated with using tourist visas or unauthorised means.
“We wish to emphasise that the official channels provided will ensure a secure and reliable means of travelling to Saudi Arabia. We therefore wish to encourage all pilgrims to take advantage of this opportunity.”
The COMOG also commended the Hajj Taskforce Management body for proposing the construction of a new Hajj Village by a private company in Accra
“This initiative has the potential of providing a comfortable and convenient accommodation options for Ghanaian pilgrims, and we support the efforts to enhance the overall Hajj experience,” it stated.
It further lauded the Foreign Affairs Ministry for introducing the expedited passport processing system for prospective Hajj pilgrims.
“While we appreciate the efforts made so far, we also urged the management to involve Muslim stakeholder organisations in decision-making process to ensure a more inclusive and effective management of Hajj operations.
It said this would enable the management to tap into the expertise and experiences of various stakeholders, leading better outcomes for Ghanaian pilgrims.
The COMOG called for thorough investigation into the management of the previous Hajj focusing on the hefty Hajj package that generated millions of dollars and contributed significantly to the challenges the citizens faced in Mikkah in the previous Hajj
“We also urge the National Investigation Breau (NIB), National Security, the Immigration Services, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to institute a probe into the acquisition and use of Saudi tourist visas by innocent Ghanaians who intended to perform Hajj.
The statement said this exercise, if carried out would help prevent future incidents and ensure a smoother Hajj experience for the citizens.
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