Majority Leader and Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga, has revealed that two constituents who took part in this year’s Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca are still unaccounted for—weeks after the completion of the exercise.
Ayariga made the disclosure on the floor of Parliament during a session where the MP for Weija-Gbawe, Jerry Ahmed Shaib, summoned the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, to brief the House on deaths and other incidents recorded during the pilgrimage.
However, the minister appeared before Parliament without substantive answers, explaining that the Hajj was managed by a taskforce set up by the President. He added that the taskforce has yet to submit its final report on the exercise.
This explanation did not sit well with several members of the Minority, including Tolon MP Habib Iddrisu and Minority Leader Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin.
Expressing concern over the missing individuals, Mr. Ayariga stated that efforts are ongoing to trace them and ensure their safety.
“Mr. Speaker, this matter concerns an incident that has occurred in a foreign country. There is a Ghanaian mission present there, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Minister for Foreign Affairs—not the Minister responsible for Religious Affairs.
Mr. Speaker, at this moment, I am unable to account for two of our pilgrims. I have been in constant communication with our Consular Officer on the ground. I can even show you my phone—I have been calling for assistance in locating them. These individuals are elderly.
They were part of a large gathering—over one million people attend the Hajj. Many of our pilgrims are not educated, they do not speak the local language, and they certainly do not speak Arabic. For many, this is their first time traveling outside Ghana. As a result, they sometimes get mixed up with delegations from other countries.
Once the Hajj is over, if we are still unable to account for our citizens, the responsibility lies squarely with the Minister for Foreign Affairs. We can draw the attention of the Minister for Religious Affairs, yes—but ultimately, matters involving our nationals in foreign countries are handled by Foreign Affairs.
In fact, I have long said that perhaps it’s time—both as a Parliament and as a country—that we move toward formal legislation on the organization and oversight of the Hajj, rather than treating it as merely a committee function.”
Over 5,900 Ghanaians participated in this year’s Hajj. Citizens are now calling on the Presidential Task Force to provide a full accounting of all pilgrims.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh/Benjamin Sackey
