National Hajj Council (Ghana)
| File:Hajj board logo.jpg Seal of the Ghana Hajj Board | |
 Entrance to the Ghana Hajj Village near Kotoka International Airport | |
| Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Parent agency | Pilgrims Affairs Office of Ghana |
| Website | hajj |
National Hajj Council (also National Hajj Committee or Ghana Hajj Secretariat or Ghana Hajj Board) is a division under the Pilgrims Affairs Office of Ghana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It was set up to oversee the annual airlifting of Ghanaian Hajj pilgrims to Saudi Arabia.[1][2]
Cost of Hajj
Cost of Hajj per head experience frequent fluctuations, falling in some years and rising in others mainly due to instability of the Ghanaian cedi. When pegged against the US dollar however the unit cost has remained fairly steady in the last 5 years.
| Year | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| (US dollar) | (Ghanaian cedi) | |
| 2017[3] | 3450 | 15,000 |
| 2016[4] | 3,500 | 11, 900 |
| 2015[5] | 3,450 | 11,900 |
| 2014[6] | 3,450 | 12,000 |
| 2013[7] | 3,450 | 6,800 |
Leadership
Leadership of the National Hajj Council is appointed by President of Ghana in consultation with the Chief Imam of Ghana.[8] Over the years different government administrations have reorganized leadership structure of the Hajj facilitation body under various names.
2017 reconstitution
Akuffo-Addo government in 2017 reconstituted the erstwhile Hajj Committee into three major units supervised by an eleven-member board.Note 1 The three units are Medical, Communications and an Information Technology directorate; the latter tasked with the responsibility to build and deploy a technology infrastructure to manage all Hajj operations.
Chronology of leaders
| Office(s) | Officeholder | Term start | Term end |
|---|---|---|---|
| Board chairman | Ibrahim Cudjoe Quaye[9] | February 2017 | |
| Board member | Abdul Malik Adams Gariba[9] | February 2017 | |
| Board member, Finance and Administration | Farouk Hamza[9] | February 2017 | |
| Board member, Welfare | Amin Bonsu[9] | February 2017 | |
| Board member, Representative of Agents | Inusa Amadu[9] | February 2017 | |
| Board member | Kamal-Deen Abdulai[9] | February 2017 | |
| Board member | Ismaela Ibrahim[9] | February 2017 | |
| Board member | Mohammed Osmanu Alidu[9] | February 2017 | |
| Board member, Accommodation | Mohammed Osumanu Yunusah[9] (PhD) | February 2017 | |
| Board member | Braimah Adams[9] | February 2017 | |
| Board member, Da'awah | Mohammed Ibrahim Mohammed[9] (PhD) | February 2017 | |
| Head of Medical unit | Seidu Zakaria[9] | February 2017 | |
| Head of Communications | Abdul Rahman Alhassan Gomda[9] | February 2017 | |
| Head of Information Technology | Mohammed-Sani Abdulai[9] (PhD) | February 2017 | |
| Committee chairman | Abdul Rauf Ibrahim Tanko[10] | January 2012 | January 2017 |
| Executive Secretary | Abdulai Nashiru[11] | January 2012 | January 2017 |
| Public Relations Officer | Alhassan Suhuyini[12] | January 2012 | January 2017 |
| Finance Officer | Mohammed Muniru | January 2012 | January 2017 |
| Head of Security | Sumaila Yahaya[13] | January 2012 | January 2017 |
| Committee chairman | Limuna Mohammed Muniru[14] | 2008 | 2012 |
Notes
- 1.^Note 1 The following persons support leadership of the 2017 Hajj team: Sadique (PhD) - Adviser to Board chairman, and Gariba Malik - Passport issues.
References
- ^ "Ghana gets pilgrims affairs office". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 2017-09-02.
- ^ "Bawumia charges Hajj organisers to make Ghana proud". 2017-08-03. Retrieved 2017-09-02.
- ^ "PAOG announces 2017 Hajj package". Retrieved 2017-09-02.
- ^ Afanyi-Dadzie, Ebenezer (2017-01-18). "Mahama gov't leaves GH¢23m Hajj debt". Ghana News. Retrieved 2017-09-02.
- ^ "2015 Hajj Fare Still US$3,450". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 2017-09-02.
- ^ "Hajj fare to go up after deadline - Executive Secretary". ghananewslink.com. Retrieved 2017-09-02.
- ^ "2014 Hajj Fare: $3450". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 2017-09-02.
- ^ "2017 Hajj in danger as Akufo-Addo denies Bawumia control". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Kwawukume, Victor. "Ghana news: Prez Akufo-Addo inaugurates new Hajj Board. Charges members to ensure smooth operations - Graphic Online". Graphic Online. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
- ^ "Statement: President Mahama Dissolves Hajj Committee | 233 Live News". 233 Live News. 2013-01-10. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
- ^ "Ghanaian Pilgrims commend Hajj Committee". Retrieved 2017-09-22.
- ^ "Suhuyini challenges Bawumia to clear Mahama's Hajj debts". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
- ^ "2013 Hajj to commence on September 17". Retrieved 2017-09-22.
- ^ Administrator. "Mahama Boy Grilled Over Hajj". Ghana Live Radio. Retrieved 2017-09-22.