National Hajj Council (Ghana)

Entrance to the Ghana Hajj Village near Kotoka International Airport

Agency overview
Parent agency| Pilgrims Affairs Office of Ghana
Website| hajj.org.gh

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

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The cost of Hajj per head experience frequent fluctuations, falling in some years and rising in others mainly due to the instability of the Ghanaian cedi. When pegged against the US dollar however the unit cost kept changing depending on other factors like exchange rate, flight ticket among others

Year  | Cost

|

(US dollar)  | (Ghanaian cedi)
2023[3] | 6,500  | 75,000
2022[4] | 5,000  | 39,000
2021[5] | Cancelled due to Covid-19  | Cancelled due to Covid-19[6]
2020[7] | Cancelled due to Covid-19  | Cancelled due to Covid-19[8]
2019[9] | 3,750  | 19,500
2018[10] | 3,450  | 15,000
2017[11] | 3,450  | 15,000
2016[12] | 3,500  | 11, 900
2015[13] | 3,450  | 11,900
2014[14] | 3,450  | 12,000
2013[15] | 3,450  | 6,800

## Leadership

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Leadership of the National Hajj Council is appointed by President of Ghana in consultation with the Chief Imam of Ghana.[16] Over the years different government administrations have reorganized leadership structure of the Hajj facilitation body under various names.

### 2017 reconstitution

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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

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Office(s) | Officeholder | Term start  | Term end

|
|
|

Board Chairman  | Ben Abdallah Banda[17] | February 2023
Board Chairman | Ibrahim Cudjoe Quaye[18] | February 2017  | January 2023
Board Chairman  | Abdul Rauf Ibrahim Tanko[19] | January 2013  | January 2016
Board Chairman  | Alhassan Bene[20] | 2009  | 2012

## Notes

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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

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1. ^ "Ghana gets pilgrims affairs office". GhanaWeb. Retrieved 2017-09-02.
2. ^ "Bawumia charges Hajj organisers to make Ghana proud". MyJoyOnline. 2017-08-03. Retrieved 2017-09-02.
3. ^ "Hajj Package fee pegged at $6,500 - Hajj Board - MyJoyOnline.com". MyJoyOnline. 2023-03-02. Retrieved 2023-06-10.
4. ^ "Ghana Hajj Board announces 2022 Hajj fare". GhanaWeb. 2022-06-08. Retrieved 2023-06-10.
5. ^ Zurek, Kweku (2021-06-20). "Hajj 2021: Pilgrimage cancelled for Ghana". Graphic Ghana.
6. ^ "Ghana cancels Hajj amid concerns over COVID". GBC Ghana online. 2021-06-21. Retrieved 2023-06-10.
7. ^ admin (2020-07-08). "Ghana Hajj Board promises to refund fees of pilgrims". Ghanaian Times. Retrieved 2023-06-10.
8. ^ Okyere, Gertrude (2020-07-04). "2020 Hajj cancelled with monies to be refunded". Adomonline. Retrieved 2023-06-10.
9. ^ "2019 Hajj fare pegged at GHC19,500; 6,000 pilgrims targeted". GhanaWeb. 2019-02-16. Retrieved 2023-06-10.
10. ^ "2018 Hajj fare would cost GH¢15,000". GhanaWeb. 2018-03-14. Retrieved 2023-06-10.
11. ^ "PAOG announces 2017 Hajj package". Ghana News Agency. Retrieved 2017-09-02.
12. ^ Afanyi-Dadzie, Ebenezer (2017-01-18). "Mahama gov't leaves GH¢23m Hajj debt". Ghana News. Retrieved 2017-09-02.
13. ^ "2015 Hajj Fare Still US$3,450". GhanaWeb. Retrieved 2017-09-02.
14. ^ "Hajj fare to go up after deadline - Executive Secretary". ghananewslink. Retrieved 2017-09-02.
15. ^ "2014 Hajj Fare: $3450". GhanaWeb. Retrieved 2017-09-02.
16. ^ "2017 Hajj in danger as Akufo-Addo denies Bawumia control". GhanaWeb. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
17. ^ Online, Peace FM. "2023 Pilgrimage: New Hajj Board Chairman Leads Delegation To Inspect Facilities In Saudi Arabia". Peacefmonline - Ghana news. Retrieved 2023-06-10.
18. ^ 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.
19. ^ "Statement: President Mahama Dissolves Hajj Committee | 233 Live News". 233 Live News. 2013-01-10. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
20. ^ http://www.modernghana.com/news/303600/perfecting-the-organisation-of-hajj.html. `{{cite news}}`: Missing or empty `|title=` (help)