Accra, Nov. 12, GNA - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and

Regional Integration on Friday said about 2,439 pilgrims embarked

on the Hajj this year. In a statement issued in Accra, the Ministry said an agreement

was reached with Egypt Air to organise and provide nine flights

from Ghana to Medina, Saudi Arabia.

"As at now all the nine flights which were arranged have since

left with 2,439 pilgrims," it added. The statement said the 2010 Hajj took off smoothly with the

usual support of the Government and National Chief Imam's Office

to assist the National Hajj Committee (NHC) to improve upon the

success of the previous year's performance in organising the

pilgrimage. The Hajj Ministry of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia granted a

quota of 2,500 pilgrims from Ghana for this year and this number

formed the basis for the National Hajj Committee planning of the

2010 pilgrimage. The statement said due to increased patronage, the National Hajj

Committee found the need to increase the size of the contingent

beyond the original 2,500, and adequate arrangements were made

for accommodation both in Mecca and Medina as well as their flight

to and from Saudi Arabia. However, it said the Hajj Committee's request for visas for the

additional number had unfortunately not been met by the Saudi

authorities after long and strenuous efforts even with the intervention

of the Government through the Foreign Affairs Ministry. During its initial planning, the National Hajj Committee had

organised enough financial resources to absorb the increased

demand, hence the committee went ahead to pay for their

accommodation in Mecca and Medina. Unfortunately, in the middle of all these arrangements, an

injunction was placed on the committee's account by the court for a

plaintiff, who is claiming the Hajj Board of 2008 took 241,000

dollars from him. "This obviously has impacted on the finances of the NHC and

for that matter their operations," it said. The statement said all these constraints notwithstanding, the

NHC managed to fulfill the conditions precedent for the application

for the visas but unfortunately, the Saudi authorities had declined the

application. "It can therefore be observed that the government, the National

Chief Imam and the NHC have all wished to have made all that is

humanly possible for the over 300 extra pilgrims to perform the Hajj

this year but Allah, the Almighty knows best and has all the power.

The Kaaba is the house of God and it is His to decide and not for

us," the statement said. It said; "The NHC sincerely apologizes to the pilgrims and their

families for the inconveniences this unfortunate situation may have

caused them". "All pilgrims, who have paid up for the trip, would have the

option of refund, and those from far off regions would be assisted

to return to their loved ones. All those who have paid and are unable

to go, would be given priority in the arrangement of next year's

(2011) Hajj," the statement added.