The Patriotic Muslim Front, a coalition of young Muslim intellectuals, politicians and students have called on the government of Ghana to address the financial challenges associated with the performance of the annual pilgrimage to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
“It’s concerning that over nine thousand Ghanaian pilgrims resorted to unapproved channels due to the high cost of Hajj in Ghana with which 15 people lost their lives due to heat exhaustion casting a negative light on the country” the group has said.
As a result, the PMF believes that this situation underscores the importance of addressing the financial challenges associated with Hajj to ensure a smooth and accessible pilgrimage experience for all Ghanaian Muslims.
President of the group, Alhaji Haruna Mohammed, in his address during a National Hajj Dialogue held in Tamale last Thursday (August 8, 2024) said it’s crucial for the government to recognize that pilgrims face challenges with monetary forex policies.
He added that the affordability of Hajj fares could have been improved if the government and the Ghana Hajj Board prioritized the welfare of the Muslim community.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the analysis of the data shows that the upwards adjustment of the package is largely influenced by prevailing exchange rates which in most cases Government subsidizes or intervenes for the Board to negotiate a favorable exchange rate for the hajj activities to help make the trip affordable” he asserted.
Cedi instability
Alhaji Mohammed recalled in 2014, the package was 3,450us dollars, which translated into 9,900gh at the exchange rate of 3.00gh to a dollar. He noted that the package remained unchanged at 3,450us dollars in 2015, but the cedi equivalent increased to 11,900gh at the exchange rate of 4.07gh to a dollar.
In 2016, the package remained constant at 3,450us dollars, which again translated into 11,900gh, at the exchange rate of 3.9gh to a dollar. Again, in 2017, the package was 3,450us dollars, which become 15,000gh at the prevailing exchange rate of 4.4gh to a dollar.
In 2018, the package slightly rose to 3,500us dollars, translating into 19,500gh at the exchange rate of 5.30gh to a dollar. In 2019, the package remained 3,500us dollars which again translated into 19,500gh at the prevailing exchange rate of 5.38gh to a dollar.
“Unfortunately, pilgrimage to Makkah in 2020 and 2021 was suspended due to COVID-19. But for the first time in nine years, the Hajj package in 2022, went up by 100 percent from 19,500gh to 39,500gh which translated into 5,000us dollars, despite the economic challenges, pilgrims still paid 75,000gh equivalent to 6,000us Dollars in 2023 and 2024 respectively” Alhaji Mohammed stated.
The President emphasized that the cost of major components of Hajj package which includes air fare, Makkah and Madina accommodations, transportation and United Agents fees have also been increased slightly which automatically will affect the package for 2025.
Mr. Haruna Mohammed intimated but for the exchange rate, Hajj fare would have been lower and affordable and seized the opportunity to appeal to the government to arrest the dollar in other to make pilgrimage to Makkah affordable.
Hajj Board response
Meanwhile, an official of Ghana Hajj Board, Alhaji Salman Faris Ayuba, explained to THE CUSTODIAN in an interview that several factors determine the prices of Hajj fares aside the cost of goods and services.
He disclosed that despite the variation of exchange rates, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in Saudi Arabia have also introduced domestic taxes and has privatized free services that pilgrims used to enjoy which cumulates into the pricing of the fare.
