The Middle East is in chaos, with missiles flying and thunderous blasts echoing across major cities following escalating tensions after the US attacks on Iran, which reportedly led to the death of its Supreme Leader,  Ayatollah Ali Khamene on February 28.

This has sparked retaliation from Iran and its allies, making travelling either by air or land a major safety concern.

Consequently, Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Ministry has advised prospective pilgrims to temporarily suspend their travel to Saudi Arabia for their Umrah due to the widespread instability and disrupted air travel restrictions in the Gulf States.

The Ministry said, “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to advise prospective Umrah pilgrims in Ghana that travel arrangements for Umrah may be affected by the rapidly evolving security situation in parts of the Middle East.”

It continued that “The Ministry therefore advises all prospective Umrah pilgrims who are currently in Ghana and yet to commence their journey to temporarily hold on with travel plans until the situation stabilises. The safety and well-being of Ghanaian nationals remain the Government's utmost priority.”

To ensure the safety of all Ghanaians who are currently in the Gulf, stay calm and keep in touch with the Consulate there.

“Ghanaians who are already in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for Umrah are advised to remain calm, comply strictly with directives issued by local authorities, and maintain regular contact with their travel agents, the Embassy in Riyadh and the Consulate General in Jeddah.

Prospective pilgrims and Ghanaian nationals requiring further information or emergency consular assistance may contact the Embassy in Saudi Arabia or Ghana," the statement added.

Hajj arrangements in Ghana

The Pilgrims Affairs Office of Ghana (PAOG) 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.