The Ghana Hajj Board has promised to return the money paid by pilgrims who were unable to travel to Mecca to complete the hajj this year.
According to the Board, due to the limit the Saudi Arabian government placed on the pilgrims, some Ghanaians who have paid couldn’t emplane for Mecca.
Abdul Rahman Gomda, the communications director for the Hajj Board, said in an interview with Citi FM in Accra that the board is aware of the frustration of many of the pilgrims who have been left disappointed at the hajj village because they expected to have left the country for the 2022 hajj, but it is unable to do much for them due to the limit placed on the number of Ghanaian pilgrims Saudi Authorities will allow into the country.
“Every country is given a quota. Two years ago we had 6,000 pilgrims who were scheduled to travel. Unfortunately, Covid came. We thought it was going to be possible, but that was not possible. The Saudi authorities have a special ministry for Hajj, and they decided that Ghana should be given a quota of 3,069. Under the circumstances, not everybody will be able to go, and as a result of which you are seeing these agitations and discontentment,” he said.
They claimed that the board is making efforts to ensure that the disgruntled pilgrims have their money returned as soon as possible.
Some pilgrims claim that the Hajj Board has confiscated all of their passports, while others claim that their names have been purposefully omitted off the final list of travelers.
They claimed that despite having proof of their documentation, the 2019 batch has not yet been airlifted despite the Hajj Board’s vow to give them priority.
They have vowed to receive their money back despite having lowered chances.
“They stated they couldn’t find my passport; I’m broken, and while I try not to cry, it’s difficult. The claim that individuals who paid in 2019 would be among the first passengers did not materialize.
