-Or GH¢ 11,900

The Chairman of the National Hajj Committee, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdul Rauf Tanko, has announced that prospective Ghanaian pilgrims embarking on this year’s holy journey to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will pay the same fare pilgrims paid last year.

According to him although the NHC maintained the hajj fare at $3450, pilgrims paying in Ghana cedis would pay at a special amount of GH¢11,900.
Announcing the package for this year’s hajj at a press briefing in Accra, Tuesday, Alhaji Rauf Tanko said “the fare for this year’s hajj remains three thousand, four hundred and fifty US dollars ($3450). Those paying in Ghana cedis would however pay an amount of GHC 11,900 at a special rate.”

He said, in addition to the GHC 11,900, prospective pilgrims will pay an additional GHC100 at the Hajj village for special travelling bags the NHC has acquired in order to meet requirements at the airports, explaining that “The National Hajj Secretariat is this year introducing a universal bagging system like other countries. Each pilgrim will be supplied with three bags and a waist bag at a discounted rate.”

“Prospective pilgrims are to take note that each pilgrim will be entitled to two piece of luggage only, each weighing a maximum of 23 kilos and one hand luggage, weighing not more than 10 kilos,” he added.

Alhaji Rauf Tanko noted that, in line with the Hajj committee’s commitment of ensuring utmost convenience of pilgrims, the committee has made adequate security, medical and logistics arrangements for the 5424 potential pilgrims, a figure representing the quota given to Ghana.

While stressing that pilgrims could pay the fare to NHC’s account at Unibank or through accredited hajj agents, the Chairman, who has been praised for supervising three successful pilgrimages, said the secretariat has once again contracted NAS air for this year’s hajj.

“The first flight will leave Accra on September 05, 2015 with a total of 450 pilgrims per flight; the last flight from Accra will depart on September 16, 2016. The first flight from Jedda to Accra will, be on October 08, 2015,” he explained.

With regards accommodation, the NHC chairman noted that, the secretariat has secured 5800 comfortable and convenient sleeping places, adding “the accommodation is for one month in Mecca, 3 days in Madina and 3 days in Mina.”

He said the NHC will only be responsible for feeding in Mina and Arafat, stressing that pilgrims would have to take care of their own feeding in Mecca and Madina.

Alhaji Tanko added that, like it was done in previous hajj under his watch, the secretariat will make available to each pilgrim a gallon of Zamzam (Holy) water on arrival in Accra.

He cautioned pilgrims not to purchase Zamzam water in Saudi Arabia, warning that “the airlines will reject them at the boarding gate.”