About 90% of Muslims who were unable to travel to Mecca for a pilgrimage in 2022 have been reimbursed by the Ghana Hajj Board.

Alhaji Farouk Hamza, the Executive Secretary of the Hajj Board, who made this announcement, also noted that finances for the remaining pilgrims are still intact and that they can get in touch with the board to get their money.

He advised the impacted pilgrims who have not yet received their refunds to either get in touch with the Hajj Board Secretariat for their money or top up if they want to pay for the pilgrimage in 2023.

In July 2022, about 3,000 Ghanaians departed for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to conduct the Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam.

Due to the numbers requested by the organizers of the annual event, some Ghanaians couldn’t embark on the journey and subsequently demanded a refund of their monies, which the board promised will be paid as soon as the paper works were done.

Alhaji Farouk Hamza who spoke during an interview on Kumasi-based Zuria FM said, “some people paid and could not make it to Mecca in 2022. We have invited all those people to come for their monies. Even those who paid GH¢26,500 were invited to take GHC39,000. Over 90 percent have contacted the Board and they have been refunded. Just a few of the affected people have not yet taken their monies, although we have asked them to come for a refund. The amount which is GHC39,000 is intact. The Board has also opened an option for them for a top-up if they want to be part of this year’s pilgrimage.”

The Hajj Board has announced that prospective pilgrims to Mecca will pay $6,500, which translates to GH₵75,000 each this year.

The Board states that the GH75,000 in cedi equivalent will be on effect until March 31, 2023, after which it may be revised in accordance with the then-current US dollar exchange rate.

The Hajj Board's executive secretary stated that the convenience of Ghanaian pilgrims traveling to Mecca in 2023 will be given top priority.

He stated that the Board was putting forth great effort to build upon the accomplishments it had recorded during the 2022 trip.

In order to provide flexibility and comfort for potential pilgrims, he continued, the Hajj Board has tapped into Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia's initiatives and digitalized its payment processes.

Alhaji Farouk also explained that a payment portal has been introduced which gives the opportunity of prospective pilgrims to pay monies in instalments from a minimum of GHC5,000.

He assured that the Hajj Board will do all it can to make the 2023 Hajj a successful one.