Controvesy over Hajj deepens

August 27, 2008 pg 31

Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru & Sahadatu Atintande
THE controversy over who has the mandate to organise this year’s pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj) deepened after the Interim Hajj Management Committee (IHMC) also announced its Hajj fare.
That was barely three days after the restructured National Hajj Council (NHC) had announced its Hajj fare and insisted that it was the only mandated body to organise the Hajj.
The NHC pegged the Hajj fare at $2,999 while the IHMC fixed it at $3,100.
The Chairman of the IHMC, Alhaji Limuna Mohammed-Muniru, who announced the $3,100 Hajj fare at a press conference in Accra, indicated that the committee which was constituted by the National Chief Imam was the only recognised body to organise the Hajj.
“This committee which is made up of seven members derives its mandate to be responsible for organising 2008 Hajj from the National Chief Imam and Mufti of the Republic of Ghana, Sheikh Usman Nuhu Sharubutu. Recognising the important role of government in the organisation of Hajj in this country, the National Chief Imam has duly communicated the composition and presence of this committee to His Excellency the President of the Republic of Ghana for government’s endorsement and support to enable the committee carry out its mandate”, he said.
Alhaji Mohammed-Muniru said the Hajj package was agreed upon after three meetings with the Ghana Hajj Agents Association.
The Hajj fare covers air ticket, accommodation in Mecca and Madina, transportation, medicare, task force, administrative and bank charges, among others.
Alhaji Mohammed-Muniru said payments should be done to only accredited Hajj agents.
He said at those meetings the two bodies agreed to retrieve locked up luggage of last year’s pilgrims from the Kotoka International Airport and resolved the funding for the 728 stranded passengers for the last two years of Hajj operations.
Alhaji Mohammed-Muniru said the committee had attended the Hajj conference in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from May 25-31, 2008 during which a quota of 3,000 pilgrims was agreed on for Ghana, an increase of 300 over last year’s figure.
Besides, he said, all the various contracts for transportation, tent and services were signed with the various Hajj authorities, and indicated that the committee had “signed the final contract with the Minister of Hajj of Saudi Arabia”.
On flight arrangements, Alhaji Mohammed-Muniru said the committee had sent letters to Egypt Air, which had responded for both charter and scheduled flights, Ethiopian Airline and Emirates, both of which had responded for scheduled flights and Antrak Air, which “has not responded to our request”.
He said the tentative date for the departure was from November 15-23, 2008, while the pilgrims would be returning home from December 16-23, 2008.
According to Alhaji Mohammed-Muniru, this time around, the IHMC would avoid the overstay of prospective pilgrims at the Aviation Social Centre before departure and indicated that the maximum stay for would-be pilgrims at the airport before departure would be eight hours.
He assured Muslims that his outfit would ensure that this year’s Hajj was organised in an orderly fashion devoid of the problems of late departure and late arrival.