Sheikh I.C Quaye, the Chairman of the Hajj Board, has announced that the fare for this year’s 2019 Hajj pilgrimage is GHC 19,500.00, an equivalent of $3,750 dollars.

This amount, according to the board chair was reached despite recent challenges and various measures put in place by the committee to ensure smooth, secure and better travelling experience for participants.

Sheikh Quaye, who made this known at the official launch of the 2019 Hajj season in Accra, said payment of the Hajj package would not be accepted after the April 30, 2019 deadline. According to him, early payment is necessary to avoid delays which tend to make planning difficult.

“The quota for the 2019 season is 6,000 pilgrims. We are also charging GH?19,500.00 per pilgrim. From today the pilgrims are going to start paying. A deadline is also necessary because without it there will be commotion and that is why the deadline has been set at April 30, 2019.

"We are calling upon will be pilgrims to hasten and pay because they were pushing us to come with the fare and now it is out so they must also come with their money. They have to come and pay then they can go to Hajj. As for the two years that we have been running this trip, we have establish a bond with the people and we will continue to make sure everybody is happy.”

Sheikh I.C Quaye also promised participants of this year’s pilgrim stress free experiences as his committee with support from the Akufo-Addo government was still committed to making the annual trip a success.

With the provision of free medical health screening by the medical team of the Pilgrim’s Affairs Office of Ghana, protection by peacekeeping security men and women and free meals by the committee all available without additional cost to the pilgrims, the board chair was optimistic participants will have nothing to complain about.

“The services we are going to offer are numerous. This year will be the best of the best. But we need people to pay eager so we can start planning now. That is why the deadline is going to also be applied with force.” Last year, a total of 5, 536 pilgrims were flown from Ghana to Saudi Arabia for the annual pilgrimage.

The exercise which began from Sunday, August 19, 2018 to Friday, August 24, 2018 had over three million Muslims gathering in the Holy City of Makkah, Saudi Arabia.

Watch video