President John Dramani Mahama has urged that the Hajj pilgrimage should be treated not as a profit-making enterprise but as a religious and spiritual journey for Muslims.
Speaking at the sod-cutting ceremony for the new Hajj Village on Friday, February 28, the President highlighted that any surplus funds from the Hajj process should be directed towards projects that benefit Zongo communities.
“This year, we established a task force to oversee the Hajj because, upon assuming office, we recognized that the time leading up to the pilgrimage was too short. Therefore, we brought together a team of competent individuals, led by Alhaji Collins Dauda, to organize this year’s Hajj. Following this, we will form the Hajj Board and appoint its chairman,” President Mahama explained.
He further emphasized that the Hajj must not be commercialized.
“I have instructed the task force that the Hajj is not a business and should not be structured for profit. The Hajj Board and Task Force must not aim to make a profit. If even one cedi remains after the Hajj, it should be donated to the poor or used for a project within the Hajj community,” he added.
The President’s statement comes amid ongoing Hajj preparations, as the Task Force urges all prospective pilgrims and accredited Hajj agents to complete payments and other required procedures within the stipulated timeline, which is March 13, 2025.
To facilitate a smooth pilgrimage, the Task Force has introduced measures to assist fully paid pilgrims in acquiring their passports with ease.
Accredited Hajj agents are encouraged to take advantage of this initiative to streamline the process for their clients.
Additionally, in a move to make the pilgrimage more accessible, the Task Force recently reduced the 2025 Hajj package fee from GHS 75,000 to GHS 62,000. This reduction aims to provide financial relief and enable more Ghanaian Muslims to fulfil their religious obligation.
