The first batch of Ghanaian pilgrims who took part in this year’s Hajj in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, are expected to arrive home on Thursday, 6 September.

This was disclosed by Sheikh I.C. Quaye on Tuesday, 4 September at a town hall meeting of pilgrims, Hajj board members and agents, security officials and other stakeholders at Dar Rees Hotel in Mecca.

Sheikh I. C. Quaye shed light on the flight schedule for both Accra and Tamale, saying: “There shall be a total of twelve in-bound flights, 2 per day in Tamale, airlifting a total of 2,622 pilgrims over a period of six days from the King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah.

Each of the two flights shall airlift 437 pilgrims.

The Accra flights “shall airlift a total of 3,132 pilgrims, over ten days from Jeddah to Accra. The first scheduled flight commences on Monday, 10 September 2018 with two daily airlifts for ten days until 19 September 2018".

He also disclosed that it took a lot of negotiation and tact to get “the Airline – Flynas, to accept to roll backwards the original flight schedule of August 14 2018. The financial and physical ramifications for such a delay would have brought untold hardship to our pilgrims.

“The change was, therefore, welcoming relief to all and sundry. It has reduced the waiting period for eight good days.”

Sheikh Quaye also expressed his appreciation to all those who contributed in diverse ways towards making this year’s pilgrimage a success. He thanked President Nana Akuffo-Addo and Vice-President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for their support to the pilgrims as well as the Pilgrims Affairs Office of Ghana.

He further commended the Minister for the Interior, the Deputy Minister for the Interior, officials of the Saudi Embassy, the Director General of Mouassassah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and his deputy and the security agencies for their various roles.

A total of 2,617 pilgrims from the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions took part in this year’s Hajj.


Source: ClassFM