Ghana has lost another pilgrim, pushing the death toll at the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. to three, the Pilgrims Affairs Office of Ghana (PAOG) has announced.

The Hajj organisers confirmed this in a formal statement dated May 29, citing that Hajia Kubura Salifu,” … died in Mina following an acute illness. Her sudden death occurred after the completion of the Hajj rituals”.

Her death comes barely a week after PAOG announced the death of two men who also died while at the pilgrimage.

Hajia Kubura Salifu is the first female to have lost her life in this year’s Hajj. PAOG indicated that “Her family has been duly informed, and the burial was conducted in accordance with Islamic principles governing the burial of a pilgrim.

“This sad event brings the total number of deceased Ghanaian pilgrims during this year's Hajj to three (3). A pilgrim who dies in Mina after Arafat receives immense spiritual blessings. They are granted the continuous reward of Hajj until the Day of Judgment, will be resurrected chanting the Talbiyah, and are promised Paradise with no reckoning of their deeds”.

According to the Office, the deceased’s family has been informed of her passing, and she has since been laid to rest in Saudi Arabia in accordance with Islamic burial rites observed for pilgrims who die during Hajj.

The Office extended its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, relatives and friends, and prayed for strength and comfort for them during this difficult period.

The statement also underscored the spiritual significance attached to dying during the Hajj pilgrimage, noting that, in Islamic tradition, pilgrims who pass away in Mina are believed to continue receiving the rewards of their pilgrimage until the Day of Judgment.

President Mahama on the number of pilgrims who left for Mecca this year

President John Mahama has confirmed that about 6,900 Ghanaian pilgrims were airlifted to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for this year’s Hajj, marking about 900 more than the 6000 earlier communicated by the Hajj Board.

Speaking during the Eid‑ul‑Adha celebrations at Independence Square yesterday, Wednesday, May 27, President Mahama commended the Ghana Hajj Board and all other stakeholders for their remarkable role and dedication in ensuring the smooth operations of the year’s Hajj.

He indicated that he has received several commendations on the Board’s facilitations on feeding accommodations, among other arrangements that have contributed to the successful organisation of the trip to Mecca.

“This year's Hajj operations have largely been successful. About 6,900 Ghanaian pilgrims were airlifted to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to undertake the sacred pilgrimage. I've received encouraging reports on their accommodation, feeding arrangements, transport, and overall welfare. I therefore wish to commend the Ghana Hajj Board and all stakeholders for their dedication and hard work in ensuring a smooth and successful Hajj this year”, he said.

Hajj village

The new multipurpose Hajj Village at the Kotoka International Airport is currently about 55% complete, according to Mawums Limited, the contractor responsible for the project. During a recent tour of the facility by the Board and Management of the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL), led by Board Chairman and Member of Parliament for Builsa North, James Agalga, the contractor indicated that the project is expected to be completed before the end of 2026.

The facility is intended to streamline pre-departure procedures and improve the overall management of Hajj operations, providing a more organised and efficient experience for Ghanaian pilgrims travelling to Mecca. It is also expected to ease congestion and enhance travel logistics associated with the annual pilgrimage.

The project has, however, attracted public debate over its necessity and funding source. In response to concerns that taxpayer money was being used for its construction, the Minister of State for Government Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, clarified that the Hajj Village is being financed entirely by the Ghana Airports Company Limited and not through public funds.

Addressing the issue in a post on X, he stated:" 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."

Despite these assurances, some Ghanaians have questioned the government's priorities, citing challenges facing communities such as those in the Volta Region affected by coastal erosion. Former Auditor-General Daniel Yao Domelevo also criticised the project, arguing that such an investment is difficult to justify at a time when Ghana continues to face economic challenges. He further referenced the more than $58 million spent on the National Cathedral project, describing the Hajj Village as a misplaced priority.

The government, however, maintains that the facility is a strategic aviation and pilgrim facilitation project funded by GACL and not by the Ghanaian taxpayer.