Alhaji Farouk Hamza, the Executive Secretary of the Ghana Hajj Board, has stated that this year’s Hajj was largely successful, with the unfortunate exception of four fatalities.
The Hajj this year was marked by a heatwave, with temperatures sometimes exceeding 50C (122F). Saudi Arabia reported that at least 1,301 people died during the Hajj, primarily unauthorised pilgrims who endured long walks in the intense heat.
According to the official Saudi news agency SPA, more than three-quarters of the deceased did not have official permits and walked under direct sunlight without sufficient shelter. Some of the deceased were elderly or suffered from chronic illnesses.
Mr Hamza said “It went very well. We’ve successfully completed the Hajj where we sent a contingent of 4000 pilgrims. So, to manage 4000 individuals from varied backgrounds for a period of 35 days in another country is a complex endeavour.”
“So, to have sent all of them and brought everything back except four people who passed on to glory I think that it has been quite successful.”
