Expectation, anxiety grip pilgrims

Accra, Dec. 14, GNA - Expectation mixed with few strands of anxiety was written on the faces of many of the Hajj pilgrims waiting at the Kotoka International Airport for their flight to Jeddah.

While some were thankful to President John Agyekum Kufuor for intervening, others would not comment until they saw the first batch airlifted.

"We were processed for boarding last night but after 12 hours we are still here with our boarding passes," one of the pilgrims told the Ghana News Agency on Friday morning.

The Government on Thursday stepped in to get stranded Ghanaian pilgrims airlifted to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj, one of the most important pillars of Islam.

It has signed a contract with a group of Germans to fly the pilgrims out on Friday morning. The chartered aircraft arrives on Thursday night at 2200 hours and would do three rotations, carrying 250 passengers on each rotation.

Mr Andrew Awuni, Press Secretary to the President, told the Presidential Press Corps that priority would be given to the 449 people who could not make the Hajj last year.

He said the Germans have given the assurance that they could get the Saudi Authorities to extend the deadline for the arrival of the Ghanaian pilgrims.

Should they succeed in doing this, the rotation contract with them would be extended.

In addition to the Germans, Mr Awuni said a deal had been struck with "Bin Sheikh Air-link" to also lift the pilgrims out. The Press Secretary said the Government was paying for the flight and that for now, the concern was to bring relief to the pilgrims and end the anxieties and uncertainties about the Hajj.

President John Agyekum Kufuor, he said, has ordered an investigation to unravel the cause of the unfortunate situation that led to the pilgrims becoming stranded in Accra. Poor organisation of the Hajj has become an annual ritual in the country.

At the cargo section of the Airport, where the pilgrims were waiting a few canopies have been erected. Ten movable toilets rented from Pottie John Mobile Rentals have been provided. Mr George Tetteh, cesspool tanker driver of the Company, said he emptied them twice in a day.

Mr Mustapha Imoro, a pilgrim from Tamale, expressed his appreciation to President Kufuor for intervening, but said he should ensure that they left for Jeddah.

He suggested that Hajj pilgrims in the Northern Sector should be airlifted from Tamale direct instead of asking them to leave their homes to come and stay in the open in Accra.

Madam Salamatu Imoro, also a pilgrim from Tamale, expressed her unhappiness about the situation and complained that the Chief Imam Alhaji Nuhu Sharabutu had not visited them since they arrived. Others suggested that those responsible for the delay should be prosecuted and added that competent companies regardless of the religion of their managers should be engaged to handle subsequent Hajj operations.