Ghana’s Muslim populace has been reassured by President John Dramani Mahama that, provided the local currency remains strong and diplomatic relations with Saudi officials continue, the cost of making the yearly Hajj pilgrimage could be drastically lowered in 2026.
Despite some government reductions, the President acknowledged the burden this year’s Hajj fare has placed on Muslim households during the national Eid-ul-Adha prayers held at Accra’s Black Star Square on Friday, June 6. Although he noted recent increases in the cedi’s value provide a route to affordability, he mostly ascribed the high cost to foreign exchange difficulties.
“We cut it this year, but despite our efforts, the cost remained high,” Mr. Mahama said. However, I want to reassure you that we are collaborating closely with our Saudi counterparts and the appropriate agencies. I am hopeful that there will be a huge decrease in Hajj fares the following year if Allah grants our requests and the cedi maintains its recent strength.
The President clarified that pilgrims would have paid an estimated GH¢45,000 if the current exchange rate had been in effect when the reservations were made previously, which is significantly less than the ticket this year.
Mr. Mahama announced a significant legislative action in addition to improvements pertaining to the Hajj in response to what he called a persistent call from the Muslim community. He said that a measure has been created to make Eid-ul-Fitr a statutory public holiday, eliminating the need for an executive fiat to declare it each year.
His statement highlighted the significance of the event in Muslims’ spiritual lives, saying, “It means that it will be a law and no longer be declared by executive instrument.”
The President also declared that he has given the Education Minister instructions to reinvigorate the Islamic Education Unit. He pointed out that in order to guarantee high-quality instruction in Islamic schools throughout the nation, this would include better hiring and training of Arabic language teachers.
His remarks were spoken in front of a sizable congregation of believers who had assembled for the Eid prayers, which in the Islamic calendar are known as the Festival of Sacrifice.
