The Ghana Hajj Board and the Ghana Hajj Agents have announced the cancellation of the Hajj for Ghanaian pilgrims for the second year in a row.
This follows a decision by the Government of Saudi Arabia to restrict the annual pilgrimage this year to its citizens, residents and a maximum of 60,000 pilgrims in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
A communique dated June 20, 2021, and jointly signed by the Chairman of the Hajj Board, Sheikh Ibrahim Cudjoe (I.C.) Quaye and the Chairman of the Hajj Agents Association, Alhaji Issah Umar Suleiman assured that pilgrims who made payments for the abortive Hajj in 2020 will be refunded expeditiously after an application to the Board.
Refunds
“In light of the June 12, 2021 announcement by the Saudi Governments’ Ministry of Hajj and Umrah Affairs, that Hajj 2021 is cancelled for International pilgrims, we have collectively, per our last joint communique met to agree on the following,” Sheikh I.C. Quaye said yesterday at a press briefing in Accra.
“Pilgrims who paid directly to the Hajj Board and wish to receive a refun of their Hajj fees (for 2020 payments), must apply to the Hajj Board for their refund to be paid expeditiously”
He also stated that pilgrims who paid their fares to the Hajj Board via their agents are to apply for their refunds through their agents.
Assurance
On his part, Alhaji Suleiman said the refunds would be paid back to the prospective pilgrims through their respective agents as soon as the verification process is completed.
He said the agents have a system in place to effect the payments only after receiving a formal request.
Cancellation not surprising
According to him, the decision by the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah Affairs of Saudi Arabia to cancel the Hajj was not surprising given that it would have been very difficult to control the crowds and socially-distance pilgrims.
“The fact that the decision was delayed kept all of us thinking that the Hajj will not come on. It wasn’t strange at all because the COVID is still being fought by the whole world looking at social distancing, I knew it could not happen with pilgrims converging at the same place for the same rituals and therefore, it didn’t take me by surprise”.
No increments
Sheikh I.C. Quaye further clarified that pilgrims who wish to retain their deposits with the Hajj Board or via the Hajj Board through their agents will be exempted from paying any increment in the Hajj fare for 2022.
“The Hajj Board will ensure that all monies paid by pilgrims directly to the Hajj Board or via their agents for 2020 Hajj, will be paid in full per the above arrangements,” he said.
Sheikh I.C. Quaye assured that if there was an increment to the Hajj fare in 2022, the Hajj Board would pay the difference on compassionate grounds.
Background
Last year, only 10,000 Muslim residents of Saudi Arabia itself were allowed to take part in the Hajj. The figure was a far cry from the 2.5 million Muslims from around the world who participated in 2019.
The restrictions were a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and it affected about 2,500 prospective pilgrims from Ghana who had paid about GH¢50 million to the board as fare for last year’s Hajj.
Each pilgrim paid GH¢19,500, the equivalent of $3,500 dollars to perform that abortive Hajj.
Increase in pilgrims
Six thousand pilgrims from Ghana participated in the Hajj in 2019, an increase on the 5,536 pilgrims that participated in 2018.
