The Pilgrims Affairs Office of Ghana (PAOG) has officially announced that it has closed all operational activities needed to prepare pilgrims for this year’s pilgrimage. The operational activities include completing key administrative processes, such as payments, documentation, and passport submissions.

The pilgrimage coordinators, in a formal press release on Wednesday, February 18, with the title “Pilgrims Affairs Office of Ghana officially closes 2026 Hajj arrangements with immediate effect,” noted that the closure of the arrangements is to relieve organisers of pressure from the high volume of applications and operational demands, ensuring that all processes leading up to this year’s Hajj, could be completed efficiently.

Parts of the statement read, “The Administration of the Pilgrims Affairs Office of Ghana (PAOG) wishes to officially announce the closure of its activities regarding the 2026 Hajj arrangements to ease the immeasurable pressure on administrators.

All operational processes leading to this year’s Hajj, including payments, documentation, and submissions, have been duly concluded, barring any unforeseen circumstances.”

On visa arrangements and issuance, PAOG noted that only prospective pilgrims who submitted all required documents and passports on time will be considered, emphasising that early payment and medical screening are key to ensuring a smooth and efficient 2026 Hajj exercise.

“We wish to emphasise that only prospective pilgrims who submitted their passports and all required documents within the stipulated time frame were considered for the visa process. Visa processing could not commence without full compliance with the documentation requirements. It is important to note that early payment, effective medical screening, and timely passport submission significantly contribute to a smoother, more efficient process for the 2026 Hajj exercise”, the statement added.

PAOG also reminded pilgrims to complete all medical screening in the selected regions nationwide, noting that remaining screening for both Greater Accra and Kumasi is slated for the next three days. It also highlighted the lessons it has learned from this year’s travel arrangements and logistics handling, among other things, which they believe will help reshape and create a smooth run for the subsequent year’s processes.

“Medical screening has been completed in the selected regions and centres. The remaining screenings for the Ashanti and Greater Accra Regions are scheduled for February 22 and 28, respectively. We further wish to state that lessons learned from this year’s operations will strengthen future Hajj arrangements to ensure greater efficiency, transparency, and improved service delivery”, the Hajj organisers said.

Also, “…prospective pilgrims under special arrangements (Protocol) are reminded to submit their passports as soon as possible to complete the process. They are also required to participate in the medical screening in Kumasi or at the Hajj Village in Accra.

Prospective pilgrims and stakeholders are advised to await further official communication regarding subsequent phases of the pilgrimage.The annual Hajj pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam, attracts thousands of Ghanaian Muslims each year, with the Pilgrims Affairs Office overseeing coordination, documentation and travel arrangements.

Meanwhile, the new multipurpose Hajj Village at the Kotoka International Airport project is about 55% complete, Mawums Limited, the contractor, has revealed.

During a tour of the facility by the Board and Management of the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), led by the Member of Parliament for Builsa North and Board Chairman, James Agalga, the contractor indicated that the project will be brought to completion before the close of 2026.

The Hajj Village will streamline pre-departure procedures, ensuring a more organised and efficient experience for pilgrims heading to Mecca.

As part of preparations for this year's pilgrimage, President Mahama has also announced plans to airlift 5,000 Ghanaian pilgrims.

The facility, when completed, is expected to improve the management of Hajj operations, easing congestion and enhancing travel logistics for the annual religious journey.

Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, has refuted claims that taxpayer money is being used to fund the construction of the new Hajj Village.

He clarified that the project is solely financed by the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) and does not rely on public funds.

Addressing concerns in a post on X, Mr Kwakye Ofosu emphasised the government's position, stating, "FACT: The Hajj Village is primarily an Airport Terminal Building for check-in and pilgrim facilitation owned and being built by the Ghana Airport Company. Not a pesewa of taxpayers' money involved."

His comments come in response to public discussions surrounding the financial sources and purpose of the facility.

Some Ghanaians questioned the priorities of the government and what they believed to be the neglect of some communities in a devastating state, particularly the Volta Region, battling coastal erosion.

Former Auditor-General Daniel Yao Domelevo has slammed the government for prioritising the construction of a Hajj Village, arguing that such an investment is unjustifiable given Ghana’s struggling economy.

Domelevo questioned the rationale behind committing resources to a religious infrastructure project while the country faces severe financial challenges.

He pointed out that Ghana is still dealing with the fallout from the $58 million spent on the National Cathedral, which has yielded little tangible progress.

“It is truly astonishing, especially as we grapple with recovering over $58 million squandered on the National Cathedral project, that one of the key priorities of the Mahama administration is the fruitless and wasteful Hajj Village project,” he remarked.