Pilgrims ran out of money in Mecca

A six-man government delegation that led Ghanaian Muslims to this year's pilgrimage to Mecca returned to Accra on Sunday. Abubakar Saddique Boniface, a Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry and member of the delegation, told the Ghana News Agency that although the pilgrimage was highly successful, yet there were few instances when some of the pilgrims either due to inadequate information or poor planning, ran out of money and had to depend on the generosity of others.

He, therefore, advised future pilgrims to prepare early and adequately so that they did not suffer financial difficulties. Boniface said although Muslims were known to help one another in times of need, yet it was necessary that pilgrims should not become burdens on others in a foreign land.

He said on previous pilgrimages Ghanaians were hosted near the Haram (Mosque) but it was unfortunate that this year they occupied a hotel, which was far away from the prayer centre and had to commute a lot.

He said the Ghanaian delegation, which was led by Alhaji Ben Salifu, Minister of State, National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) prayed for an end to the conflict in Cote d'Ivoire.

They also offered prayers for peace and prosperity for all Ghanaians and especially, President John Kufuor and the government. Boniface said fellow Muslims saluted the Ghanaian pilgrims for the peace and stability prevailing in country and praised the role the Ghanaian-born UN Secretary-General Busumuru Kofi Annan was playing in the handling of international issues.

All the Ghanaian pilgrims are yet to arrive in the country because bad weather had delayed the Ghana Airways' flight schedules. He confirmed that four male Ghanaians died in Mecca during the pilgrimage. Boniface said the last batch would arrive in Ghana latest by next week Monday.