National Hajj Council (Ghana)

National Hajj Council (also National Hajj Committee or Ghana Hajj Secretariat or Ghana Hajj Board) is a division under the Pilgrims Affairs Office of Ghana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It was set up to oversee the annual airlifting of Ghanaian Hajj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.[1][2]


Entrance to the Ghana Hajj Village near Kotoka International Airport
Agency overview
Parent agencyPilgrims Affairs Office of Ghana
Websitehajj.org.gh

Cost of Hajj

The cost of Hajj per head experience frequent fluctuations, falling in some years and rising in others mainly due to the instability of the Ghanaian cedi. When pegged against the US dollar however the unit cost kept changing depending on other factors like exchange rate, flight ticket among others

Year Cost
(US dollar) (Ghanaian cedi)
2023[3] 6,500 75,000
2022[4] 5,000 39,000
2021[5] Cancelled due to Covid-19 Cancelled due to Covid-19[6]
2020[7] Cancelled due to Covid-19 Cancelled due to Covid-19[8]
2019[9] 3,750 19,500
2018[10] 3,450 15,000
2017[11] 3,450 15,000
2016[12] 3,500 11, 900
2015[13] 3,450 11,900
2014[14] 3,450 12,000
2013[15] 3,450 6,800

Leadership

Leadership of the National Hajj Council is appointed by President of Ghana in consultation with the Chief Imam of Ghana.[16] Over the years different government administrations have reorganized leadership structure of the Hajj facilitation body under various names.

2017 reconstitution

Akuffo-Addo government in 2017 reconstituted the erstwhile Hajj Committee into three major units supervised by an eleven-member board.Note 1 The three units are Medical, Communications and an Information Technology directorate; the latter tasked with the responsibility to build and deploy a technology infrastructure to manage all Hajj operations.

Chronology of leaders
Office(s)OfficeholderTerm start Term end
Board Chairman Ben Abdallah Banda[17] February 2023
Board member Habib Iddrisu[18] February 2023
Board member Safia Mohammed[19] February 2023
Board member Chief Saddique Jimala III[19] February 2023
Board member Inusah Amadau[20] February 2023
Board member Osumanu Yunusah[19] February 2023
Board member Abdul Rahman Alhassan Gomda[20] February 2023
Board member Musah Akambonga[19] February 2023
Board member Hajia Azara Haroun[19] February 2023
Executive Secretary Farouk Hamza[21] February 2023
Executive Secretary member Ibrahim Adjei[22] February 2023
Executive Secretary member Ahmed Abu[23] February 2023
Executive Secretary member Ahmed Tijani[24] February 2023
Board chairmanIbrahim Cudjoe Quaye[25] February 2017 January 2023
Board memberAbdul Malik Adams Gariba[25] February 2017 January 2023
Board member, Finance and AdministrationFarouk Hamza[25] February 2017 January 2023
Board member, WelfareAmin Bonsu[25] February 2017
Board member, Representative of AgentsInusa Amadu[25] February 2017 January 2023
Board member Kamal-Deen Abdulai[25] February 2017 January 2023
Board member Ismaela Ibrahim[25] February 2017 January 2023
Board member Mohammed Osmanu Alidu[25] February 2017 January 2023
Board member, Accommodation Mohammed Osumanu Yunusah[25] (PhD) February 2017 January 2023
Board member Braimah Adams[25] February 2017 January 2023
Board member, Da'awah Mohammed Ibrahim Mohammed[25] (PhD) February 2017
Head of Medical unit Seidu Zakaria[25] February 2017
Head of Communications Abdul Rahman Alhassan Gomda[25] February 2017 January 2023
Head of Information Technology Mohammed-Sani Abdulai[25] (PhD) February 2017 January 2023
Committee chairman Abdul Rauf Ibrahim Tanko[26] January 2012 January 2017
Executive Secretary Abdulai Nashiru[27] January 2012 January 2017
Public Relations Officer Alhassan Suhuyini[28] January 2012 January 2017
Finance Officer Mohammed Muniru January 2012 January 2017
Head of Security Sumaila Yahaya[29] January 2012 January 2017
Committee chairman Limuna Mohammed Muniru[30] 2008 2012

Notes
1.^Note 1 The following persons support leadership of the 2017 Hajj team: Sadique (PhD) - Adviser to Board chairman, and Gariba Malik - Passport issues.

References
  1. "Ghana gets pilgrims affairs office". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 2017-09-02.
  2. "Bawumia charges Hajj organisers to make Ghana proud". 2017-08-03. Retrieved 2017-09-02.
  3. "Hajj Package fee pegged at $6,500 - Hajj Board - MyJoyOnline.com". www.myjoyonline.com. 2023-03-02. Retrieved 2023-06-10.
  4. "Ghana Hajj Board announces 2022 Hajj fare". GhanaWeb. 2022-06-08. Retrieved 2023-06-10.
  5. Zurek, Kweku (2021-06-20). "Hajj 2021: Pilgrimage cancelled for Ghana".
  6. "Ghana cancels Hajj amid concerns over COVID". 2021-06-21. Retrieved 2023-06-10.
  7. admin (2020-07-08). "Ghana Hajj Board promises to refund fees of pilgrims". Ghanaian Times. Retrieved 2023-06-10.
  8. Okyere, Gertrude (2020-07-04). "2020 Hajj cancelled with monies to be refunded". Adomonline.com. Retrieved 2023-06-10.
  9. "2019 Hajj fare pegged at GHC19,500; 6,000 pilgrims targeted". GhanaWeb. 2019-02-16. Retrieved 2023-06-10.
  10. "2018 Hajj fare would cost GH¢15,000". GhanaWeb. 2018-03-14. Retrieved 2023-06-10.
  11. "PAOG announces 2017 Hajj package". Retrieved 2017-09-02.
  12. Afanyi-Dadzie, Ebenezer (2017-01-18). "Mahama gov't leaves GH¢23m Hajj debt". Ghana News. Retrieved 2017-09-02.
  13. "2015 Hajj Fare Still US$3,450". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 2017-09-02.
  14. "Hajj fare to go up after deadline - Executive Secretary". ghananewslink.com. Retrieved 2017-09-02.
  15. "2014 Hajj Fare: $3450". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 2017-09-02.
  16. "2017 Hajj in danger as Akufo-Addo denies Bawumia control". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
  17. Online, Peace FM. "2023 Pilgrimage: New Hajj Board Chairman Leads Delegation To Inspect Facilities In Saudi Arabia". Peacefmonline.com - Ghana news. Retrieved 2023-06-10.
  18. Bureau, Communications (2023-02-15). "President Akufo-Addo Reconstitutes Hajj Board; Hajj Board Secretariat". presidency.gov.gh. Retrieved 2023-06-10.
  19. Starrfm.com.gh (2023-02-15). "Ben Abdallah Banda appointed chairman of Hajj Board | Starr Fm". Retrieved 2023-06-10.
  20. "Akufo-Addo reconstitutes Hajj Board, Abdallah Banda is new chair". GhanaWeb. 2023-02-16. Retrieved 2023-06-10.
  21. "Here Is The Composition Of The New Hajj Board Constituted By President Akufo-Addo". Metro TV Online. 2023-02-16. Retrieved 2023-06-10.
  22. Dzakpata, Fred (2023-02-16). "I C Quaye out as Akufo-Addo reconstitutes Hajj board". Asaase Radio. Retrieved 2023-06-10.
  23. ANKIILU, MASAHUDU (2023-02-16). "Ghana Reconstitutes Hajj Board, Abdallah Banda Leads New Team". African Eye Report. Retrieved 2023-06-10.
  24. "Akufo-Addo reconstitutes National Hajj Board, Hajj Secretariat". Citinewsroom - Comprehensive News in Ghana. 2023-02-16. Retrieved 2023-06-10.
  25. Kwawukume, Victor. "Ghana news: Prez Akufo-Addo inaugurates new Hajj Board. Charges members to ensure smooth operations - Graphic Online". Graphic Online. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
  26. "Statement: President Mahama Dissolves Hajj Committee | 233 Live News". 233 Live News. 2013-01-10. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
  27. "Ghanaian Pilgrims commend Hajj Committee". Retrieved 2017-09-22.
  28. "Suhuyini challenges Bawumia to clear Mahama's Hajj debts". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
  29. "2013 Hajj to commence on September 17". Retrieved 2017-09-22.
  30. Administrator. "Mahama Boy Grilled Over Hajj". Ghana Live Radio. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
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