Hajj Task Force Apologizes to Stranded Pilgrims

Accra, Ghana - 26 May, 2025 - Ghana's National Hajj Task Force has extended a formal apology to thousands of pilgrims who were unable to fulfill their spiritual obligations during this year's Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, citing unforeseen circumstances beyond its control.

The setbacks, which affected a number of would-be pilgrims, included issues with visa acquisition and travel documentation.

About 6,000 Ghanaian pilgrims still managed to reach Saudi Arabia amid the challenges.

Alhaji A.B.A Fuseini, Head of Corporate Affairs for the Task Force, acknowledged the frustrations experienced by some pilgrims and pledged to improve arrangements for future pilgrimages. 

“Those pilgrims who paid but were not able to go and had visa problems, we will deal with them, so we can take them along, as well as those on the protocol side,” he said.

“I need to prefix that with an apology to our pilgrims who, in one way or another, have not been able to fly. I want to apologise to them and seek their forgiveness for our inability to carry them now.”

The Task Force also confirmed that two Ghanaian pilgrims passed away in Mecca during the 2025 Hajj, and five individuals were repatriated to Ghana due to complications with their travel documentation. 

 “Some said they were deported, but we choose to use the word ‘repatriated.’

''Deportation connotes some criminality, but these people who have returned have not committed any crime. It was an error in the issuance of their visa.”

“Some attempts to realign the visas resulted in some unfortunate mistakes where their visas were withdrawn. I can assure you that we are making every effort to get them to go back,” he added.

Alhaji Fuseini assured that efforts were being made to rectify the situation and allow the affected pilgrims to complete their pilgrimage in the future.

Source: Lead News Online