Hajj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to the sacred city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia, to fulfil a mandatory religious duty as a capable Muslim. It must be carried out at least once in a Muslim’s lifetime as an adult who is physically and financially capable of undertaking the journey, and of supporting one’s family during your absence from home. It is the fifth pillar of Islam.
The Holy Quran mentions the Hajj pilgrimage in several places, including, Surah Al-Hajj Ayat 27 (22:27 Quran). “Call ‘all’ people to the pilgrimage. They will come to you on foot and on every lean camel from every distant pass,”.
According to DATA SAUDI, the total number of pilgrims recorded in 2024 was 1,833,164, consisting of 221,854 internal pilgrims constituting 12.1%, and 1,611,310 external pilgrims constituting 87.9%. Among the external pilgrims, Data Saudi reports that 96.0% arrived at Makkah al-Mukarramah via air transport, 3.7% by land transport, and 0.3% by sea transport.
In Ghana, about 4000 pilgrims traveled to Saudi Arabia by air transport in 2024. The pilgrims were reported to have been flown in five batches from May 28 to June 2, 2024. More than 2000, constituting at least 50% of Ghanaian pilgrims had to be flown directly from Northern Ghana to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia. It is believed that the 4000 number are the pilgrims who employed the services of the Hajj Secretariat. Others used different travel and tour companies to get them to Saudi Arabia for pilgrimage. Some had to fly from Nigeria and Togo to avoid missing that year’s pilgrimage. It is also believed that pilgrims from other West African countries without well structured services, and due to some family ties opted to use Ghana as their transit points to Saudi Arabia. A number of potential pilgrims could not make it due to various reasons, including health, place to lodge while they await their flights considering the inconsistencies of departure dates and late clearance on documentation.
Every year there has been an increased call for streamlining the pilgrimage process, especially lodging facilities because of uncertain departure dates and times. Many of the pilgrims come from distant part of the country where even transportation to the capital city is huge challenge, and the fact that they have to live closer to the Airport and have a reliable means of communication through which alerts and announcements can reach them, majority of them chose to come and camp around the Airport under harsh conditions, like rain, scorching sun, cold in the nights, and also at the mercy of some criminals, including thieves.
The need to streamline this annual process can therefore not be underestimated, hence the need for the National Hajj Council to be well structured and resourced to efficiently make the lives of the pilgrims more easier and the pilgrimage experience a memorable one. At the same time, a tourism and revenue angle of the annual exercise must be tapped to help the economy and the citizenry who will never be pilgrims in their lifetime but can also indirectly benefit as taxpayers, and not necessarily being a Muslim. The period of the pilgrimage must however, be solemnly guarded.
The National Hajj Council which over the years has been given different names to describe it was created to streamline or oversee the annual transport of Hajj pilgrims by air from Ghana to Saudi Arabia. The names that have been used interchangeably to refer to the National Hajj Council which is a division under the Pilgrims Affairs Office of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ghana includes, National Hajj Committee, Ghana Hajj Board and Ghana Hajj Secretariat being the reigning name. These names emanate from change of government over the years leading to changes to the leadership structure and Board members.
The leadership and Board members of the National Hajj Council are appointed by the President of Ghana in Consultation with the National Chief Imam of Ghana. In 2009, when the Mills and Mahama NDC government saw the need to institute such a council to steer the transportation of Hajj pilgrims from Ghana to Saudi Arabia, after the many complaints of struggles and poor treatments, Alhassan Bene was appointed the Board Chairman. The Mahama and Amissah Arthur NDC government appointed Abdul Rauf Ibrahim Tanko to serve as the Board Chairman from 2013 January to January 2016.
The Nana Akuffo Addo and Dr.Bawumia NPP government assumed office in 2017 and appointed Ibrahim Cudjoe Quaye to serve as the Board Chairman from February 2017 to January 2023. In 2023 February, Ben Abdallah Banda was appointed by the same Nana Akuffo Addo and Dr. Bawumia NPP government as Board Chairman. A position he holds till date supported by Alhaji Sadique in a capacity as adviser to the Board Chairman and Alhaji Gariba Malik supporting in the area of passport issues.
The recent debate over the need to have a Hajj Village with some doing everything possible to juxtapose it with the building of the corruption-ridden National Cathedral is unfortunate. Can a prayer and request from a religious group (Muslims) in Ghana to a presidential candidate to make an existing arrangement that sought to make lives of pilgrims better within approximately 3 months in every year, be the same as a promise made by a different presidential candidate then to his God or ‘god’ to build a Cathedral to express gratitude when his wish comes to pass?
With the former, the protection of dignity of women, men, most of whom are elderly, the protection against the harsh weather conditions, and the smooth and efficient running of the Airport amidst other travelers who may not be pilgrims during the Hajj period were matters of high concern.
The latter emanates from an individual’s own volition to use the State resources to unilaterally impose the building of a structure to be in consonance with what he promised his God or ‘god’. In doing so robbed everyone in by means of using paid taxes to fulfill his promise. No religious group called on the former president Nana Akuffo Addo to place a request for a Cathedral before him. In fact, it is the former president who rather called on selected heads of Churches and employed their services to help him make his personal interest a national interest at all cost to enable him ‘stab’ the national purse in the pursuit of fulfilling a personal vow.
The Hajj Village construction will not be seeking to bring a kind of Saudi Arabia to Ghana, as the National Cathedral’s ultimate interest was to bring a kind of Israel to Ghana, as Ghanaians were told by some members of the National Cathedral Secretariat in the then Nana Addo and Bawumia NPP government. After all, the building of the Cathedral became a venture that elicited public outcry when it was determined that Parliament’s approved amount for its construction was being flouted with impunity.
Extreme variations from what was known to be the original design and cost was not brought to Parliament for approval. The finance minister with the blessing of the presidency and the unchained arrogance of the National Cathedral Secretariat members was seen to be bloating by the day, with decisions being made without considering the tax payer’s struggles to make ends meet. Some of the members of the secretariat will choose their reputation over ego to respectfully resign from their positions in the midst of the outcry. Other members will purchase deaf ears at an expensive price to aid them not to listen to the cry of the people.
The Hajj Village construction is not intended to bring a part of a part of the Kaaba to Ghana for preservation and worshipping, as was done in the case of National Cathedral construction where a stone purported to be part of a wailing wall was acquired and shipped to Ghana from Israel to ultimately give those to visit the Cathedral in future an Israel experience, and or feeling.
The Hajj Village will not be used as an excuse to break down public properties, including houses of Judges positioned in an historic environment, some consulates in Ghana and some private business offices. It will not be shrouded in financial mysteries, where the total cost begins at an amount only to be seen ballooning and flying at a region of 400 percent (400%) cost increase and still be described as a moving target.
The Hajj Village will not be solely managed by an amalgamated religious sect. It is the Airport Company that will fund it and oversee its operations, though there will be the Hajj Secretariat office situated at the village we learned about.
The world has evolved and continues to do so to a point where Airports are no longer what many think. That is, a place to board a flight, land or just make transit. Modernity has brought a sense of life even without having to be flying through the Airport to enjoy many services, fun and benefits associated with the Airport environment if you are not a flying passenger. Museums, conference halls, performing stages, indoor and outdoor games like basketball, tennis, ping pong are becoming part of Airports for the benefit of travellers and non travelers who would like to rent those spaces. This generates revenue and at the same time provides employment.
Kotoka International Airport serves as a transit point to many domestic Airlines. Long layovers will no longer be a headache for many knowing they will have an affordable place to lay their heads as they await their flights having travelled from far and near. Passengers and the public can explore, including having good Internationally assorted food in restaurants housed in the Hajj Village. Shuttles provided to other terminals. Movie theaters for screening and premiering movies to help the creative Art Industry, These theaters could be used during the pilgrimage period where Hajj educational movies can be screened to help in preparing the pilgrims.
Job for Nurses, Doctors and Nursing Aides, as well as cleaning and maintenance jobs during Hajj. A clinic for travelers and fitness/Gym facilities with private showers, as in some well known International Airports around the world like the Singapore Changi Airport. This Airport is one of the largest, has fitness lounges with bathrooms.
Munich International Airport, also known as Franz Josef Strauss Airport, is the second largest in Germany. It prides itself with a fitness gym, spa and heated swimming pool. The Dubai International Airport can boast of the G-Force Health Club to maintain health. Incheon International Airport in South Korea has an indoor ice-skating rink and state of the Art Gym too.
Zurich Airport is one of the best, where you can even get the experience of a vacation without leaving the Airport or even flying. The pools, fitness center with trainers, sleeping rooms and many nourishing experiences that leave memories on your mind. This can easily be made part of the Hajj Village as an extension of the Airport terminal.
Chicago O’Hare International Airport in the USA and San Francisco International Airport, San Francisco USA are another to draw inspiration from. San Francisco International Airport has some quiet rooms for meditation and full of amazing lighting beauty that no one forgets after experiencing it.
Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar can boast of swimming pools stretching to about 25 meters to welcome swimming lovers. This can be considered if not for immediate inclusion, as a long term. It will help athletes, especially swimmers transiting in Ghana to take with them an impression worth attracting investors and tourists.
The Hajj pilgrims will mostly use the lodging section of the Village and patronize the businesses and recreational services and activities in the village.One thing worth mentioning is that the pilgrims’ use of the Hajj Village will generate revenue for Ghana. At the end of their usage during that period of the year, the village is then opened to the general public for the about 9 months remaining in that year to generate additional revenue.
As many are concerned, especially having witnessed how taxpayers money was grossly disrespected and mutilated to churn out what is now described as the most expensive pit in the world. For the water sports lovers and enthusiasts, to describe it as the biggest swimming pool ever, one cannot dust off the fact that taxpayers money indirectly will be used to construct the Hajj Village, either short term or long-term even if we are told it is going to be funded by the Airport Company.
The use of the space, which is a terminal of the Airport when constructed, will expand the aviation industry in Ghana and provide JOBS. Hajj occupants will only use that space for approximately 3 months a year during the pilgrimage periods. The remaining 9 months every year will be for Airport activities.
Prioritizing is key, but if he is, the experienced president sees wisdom in the construction of the Hajj Village to alleviate the annual struggles of Hajj pilgrims, he must know that he has the blessings of a two-third majority of Ghanaians who are of sane mind and discerning to go ahead and construct the Hajj Village with no apology to expand the Airport like he did with Terminal 3. He must take the voices of those crying foul about this brilliant idea to be a motivation to see through the completion of the Hajj Village, for the same people will be proud of him for listening to their criticism but making an informed decision to be a joy to their country Ghana, one day.
The National Cathedral could be built at an outskirt of Accra, if it is the call of majority of Ghanaians, as these monuments and infrastructure, when planned genuinely with the heart and spirit of the people in mind, and given a genuine blessing of the people, only live to be PRIDE OF GHANA, and not an individual’s fantasy that has the tendency to live and remind us of our loud silence and, or become a greatest regret or at worst a curse.
I rest my PEN.
Mustapha Alhassan
Pennsylvania, USA.
