Muslim Groups Ghana has expressed their displeasure over how some individuals are playing the tribal card against the Hajj Board Chairman, Sheikh I.C Quaye with a staged demonstration. The group described the actions of these individuals as tribalistic because he is a Ga and not from the Zongos or the Northern part of the country.
According to them, some masked men in an attempt to sabotage and make Sheikh I.C Quaye and the NPP unpopular have rented the services of Kayayei (head porters) to stage the said demonstration for their selfish interest but it did not see the light of day. The groups stated that the failure to sabotage the good work of Chairman I.C Quaye was a result of effective measures put in place to ensure stress-free and smooth Hajj operation which has silenced all doomsayers. Muslim Groups Ghana commended the government and the Hajj Board Chairman, Sheikh IC Quaye for arriving at a reasonable fare of 39, 000 ghana cedis for the 2022 Hajj.
According to them, they are appreciative of the steps taken by the Akufo Addo led government to make the Hajj pilgrimage much easier, more comfortable, and affordable as compared to other countries. Muslim Groups Ghana includes the Muslim Women Group, Hajj Research, Muslim Broadcast and Journalists Association Ghana, Hajj Media Voice, Ghana Hajj Pilgrims and Northerners, and Zongos Association Ghana. In an interview with the National Coordinator of the group on whether or not the 2022 Hajj package will favour the would-be pilgrims, he said despite the huge increments by the Saudi Authorities in charge of Hajj Affairs, the Board led by Sheikh I.C Quaye and the government were able to arrive at 39,000 Ghana cedis which to them is affordable. Research conducted by Ghana Hajj over this year’s hajj price for prospective pilgrims revealed that Ghanaian pilgrims are actually paying the lowest compared to what others are paying in their countries.
Alhaji Galaxy revealed that based on their findings, the amount should have been much higher than
what the Board announced few weeks ago, but the Board had been more considerate to Ghanaian Muslims. Hajj Board has encountered many challenges in reducing the country’s quota from 6,700 to. 3, 69 due to the covid-19 pandemic, taxations, and new policies which led to the increments of this year’s Hajj fees adding that transportation fare was increased by over 200%, accommodation charges have also been increased in Mina and Arafat respectively plus the introduction of VAT on all services. These and many other reasons compelled the Hajj Board to increase the fare for this year’s pilgrimages. Alhaji Galaxy further revealed that some faceless groups are also planning to stage a demonstration against the Hajj Board chairman despite the departure of about two flights from Tamale airport.
He called on the so-called groups to do a proper check and research before coming out to criticize the Hajj Board chairman and the government over this year’s package and wonder why people will play the tribal card by sabotaging the chairman for their 0wn parochial interest and that of their paymasters. The Hajj Board has been commended by Muslim clerics in the country for ensuring successful Hajj operations in previous years; describing Sheikh IC Quaye as the best Hajj Board chairman in the history of Hajj affairs in Ghana: praying that he continues his good work by ensuring another successful Hajj this year. Sheikh I.C Quaye is the only Hajj Board chairman who was able to airlift all the passengers to the kingdom of Saudi Arabia and fed the pilgrims three square meals each day, thereby reducing the burden on the pilgrims.
Source: WadataOnline.com/Muhammed Faisal Mustapha
