President John Dramani Mahama has announced plans to arrange the airlifting of 5,000 Ghanaian pilgrims to Mecca for the 2025 Hajj.

Speaking at the foundation-laying ceremony for the Hajj Village on Friday, February 28, 2025, he reaffirmed the government’s commitment to facilitating a smooth and well-coordinated pilgrimage.

“After we pay off the millions of dollars of debts that have accumulated in Saudi Arabia from earlier Hajj operations, this year, we intend to airlift exactly 5,000 pilgrims to the Holy Land. And the taskforce has announced March 13, 2025, as the deadline for payment,” he stated.

President Mahama also revealed that the government has secured a pre-financing agreement with a local bank to guarantee full coverage of all deposits for accommodation, transportation, and other essential services for the pilgrims.

“We have facilitated a pre-finance arrangement with one of the local banks. And so, I’m pleased as I speak to you to announce that all deposits for accommodation, transport, and other facilities have been paid,” he said.

He also directed the Hajj Task Force to strictly adhere to the set limit of 5,000 pilgrims.

“I’ve instructed the Hajj Task Force that they should cut off at exactly 5,000 and not go beyond 5,000. We don’t want the previous situation where people rush with late payments and we are unable to airlift them and become complaining,” he stated.