The presence of Vice Presidential Candidate of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Mahamudu Bawumia in Mecca last year is believed to have caused the stampede resulting in dozens of deaths according to the Eastern Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

On 24 September 2015, a stampede occurred at Mina which caused deaths estimated to significantly exceed 2,000 among pilgrims who were suffocated or crushed during the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia,

But Bismark Tawiah Boateng claims the presence of Dr Bawumia triggered the unfortunate incident because it is a taboo to travel to the holy land with the elephant symbol.

Addressing party supporters at Suhum last weekend according to Bryt Fm’s Nyarko Abronoma, he observed that because Dr Bawumia did not go this year, nothing like its sort has been witnessed and therefore described the NPP as a cursed party.

“Moslems across the world have been travelling to Saudi Arabia to pray for years now without any death but because Dr. Bawumia went with the elephant symbol last year, it caused a stampede which resulted in the death of most pilgrims knowing the elephant is a taboo over there

No Moslem has died in this year’s Hajj, and is all because Dr. Bawumia did not attend let alone go with his “taboo elephant symbol” as he did last year”