President John Dramani Mahama has cautioned against the commercialization of the Hajj pilgrimage, stressing that it should remain a sacred religious experience for Muslims rather than an opportunity for financial gain.

During the sod-cutting ceremony for the new Hajj Village on Friday, February 28, he underscored the need for any surplus funds from Hajj operations to be reinvested into projects that benefit Zongo communities.

“This year, we set up a task force to manage the Hajj because, after assuming office, we realized that the time before the pilgrimage was too short. So, we brought competent people together, led by Alhaji Collins Dauda, to organize this year’s Hajj. After this, we will constitute the Hajj Board and appoint its chairman,” President Mahama stated.

He made it clear that the pilgrimage should not be treated as a business venture and warned that efforts to generate profit from it must be avoided.

“I have instructed the task force that the Hajj is not a business and should not be structured for profit. The Hajj Board and Task Force must not aim to make a profit. If even one cedi remains after the Hajj, it should be donated to the poor or used for a project within the Hajj community,” he added.

With preparations for the 2025 pilgrimage underway, the Task Force has urged prospective pilgrims and accredited Hajj agents to complete their payments and necessary procedures before the March 13 deadline.

To streamline the process, a system has been introduced to assist fully paid pilgrims in obtaining their passports without difficulty. Hajj agents have also been encouraged to take advantage of this initiative to enhance efficiency for their clients.

In a bid to make the pilgrimage more accessible, the Task Force has reduced the 2025 Hajj package fee from GHS 75,000 to GHS 62,000. This adjustment aims to ease financial burdens and enable more Ghanaian Muslims to undertake the sacred journey.