Accra, March 3, 2008 GNA - The Coalition of Muslim Organisations of Ghana, Al Asuna Wa Jama and the Federation of Muslim Women Association of Ghana would organize a conference to strengthen the capacity of the National Hajj Council to ensure effective delivery of its mandate. A statement signed by Abdul Rashid Odoi, Publicity Committee Coordinator, Hajj Council said the three-day conference slated for Saturday was necessitated by recent embarrassments and distress that affected pilgrims and the Muslim community in the past two years during the pilgrimage to Mecca.

It said the meeting which is a sequel to the first in 2005, would be under the theme: "Hajj: A Challenge to Leadership, Probity and Accountability in the Muslim Community" and attract about 500 delegates from across the country.

According to the statement, organisation of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca had often faced severe challenges, but last year's incident was most disturbing.

It said it was in that light that the forthcoming conference would seek to provide a platform for a wide range of interest groups to discuss and find a permanent solution to the perennial problems associated with Hajj operations in Ghana.

The conference, the statement said, would also draft a resolution to restructure and expand the stakeholder organisations of the NHC and adopt a working document.