Ghanaian Executed In Saudi

A GHANAIAN, Jameel Hassan, not a pilgrim, has been executed in Saudi Arabia for importing into the Kingdom a quantity of narcotic drugs.

News about the execution which reportedly took place in mid-November, 2007, was carried by the Saudi media.

Narcotic drug convicts are executed summarily, and the hands of thieves are cut off, according to Saudi laws.

In another development the death has been announced of the Ghanaian pilgrim who was in a coma for many days after suffering diabetic complications and contracting Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis (CSM).

The deceased, Awudu Ibrahim hailed from Winneba. Before his death he was placed in an isolated ward.

A Ghanaian medical source, which described the ailment as an airborne disease, said it is prevalent in Asia and many pilgrims from that part of the world come for the pilgrimage annually.

The source expressed remorse that many pilgrims avoided the vaccination even though they were issued with the yellow card certification indicating that they were vaccinated.

Another ailment against which vaccinations are required is the deadly yellow fever disease.

Dr. Afisa Zakaria, one of the doctors with the Hajj team had earlier told DAILY GUIDE that future Hajj exercises should insist on medical examination of pilgrims.

She added that there should also be an age limit for pilgrims to obviate the hardship suffered by the aged in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Her position about the age limit has been supported by the Chairman of the Hajj Council in a previous interview with DAILY GUIDE.

Another pilgrim, Alima Sardia Armeyaw, a Ghanaian pilgrim from Kumasi, died a couple of days ago after succumbing to diabetes.

The woman, aged 50 years, who registered with the Labaika Hajj Pilgrimage Agency was said to have been stocked with her required medication for the Hajj.

She has since been buried and her family members notified in Kumasi, according to her agent.

By this development, the number of Ghanaians to die in this year’s Hajj has risen to nine. Only one pilgrim passed away on last year’s Hajj.

The names of those dead, according to a medical source in Mecca, are Alhassan Abubakar, Mariama Issahak, Adam Alhassan, Dahinatu Abdulai, Mariama Huudu, Ahmad Baba (resident in the US) Hajaratu Sumaila and Alimatu Sardia, who died on Tuesday.

Meanwhile the airlifting of pilgrims back to Ghana appears to be suffering a hitch because of the small size of the aircraft involved in the exercise.

A Hajj Council member told DAILY GUIDE that the Alama group has promised engaging a bigger aircraft to expedite the process.

A number of pilgrims have complained that they have exhausted their monies and prayed that their home-going be enhanced.

In Jeddah and Medina, two mandatory stops for pilgrims, temperature had fallen tremendously, making life very uncomfortable for the Ghanaians.

In another development, the Chairman of the Hajj Council, Ustaz Seidu Ahmed has told DAILY GUIDE that his outfit is facing a charge of SR51,000 being the cost of services for pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.

Pilgrims are charged for a number of services provided by the Saudi authorities. The development, he said, was created by some agents who did not pay through the Council yet had these brought in by foreign travel documents.

This, he said, had added to the woes of the Council because the Saudi authorities in the event of non-payment could sanction Ghana.

Another problem being faced by the Council, he noted, was the payment for the use of kitchens by Ghanaian women food vendors. These women, who should have paid for the use of the facilities, reneged.

The women, he disclosed, are mainly Ghanaian women resident in the Kingdom who do business during the Hajj period.

The Chairman disclosed further that efforts were on to secure a bigger aircraft to speed up the movement of pilgrims from Saudi Arabia.

So far, over 700 out of the 2,700 or so pilgrims have been airlifted. Those left behind are anxious to leave, most having exhausted their kitty.

Movement from Saudi Arabia is more complex than the airlifting of pilgrims to the kingdom, said a source close to the Hajj. Due to security concerns, the Saudi authorities have a planned movement of pilgrims in the kingdom.

Pilgrims for instance should spend not more than six hours in Jeddah and not less than 24 hours in Medina. These requirements have therefore added to the difficulties in the current operations.

The source added that the acquisition of a bigger aircraft for instance, even though in order, might not be feasible if pilgrims who have congregated in Medina, have not spent the required period in the Holy City.

There should therefore be the required number of pilgrims ready to board such an aircraft in Jeddah.

Meanwhile the weighing of goods belonging to pilgrims continues, even though concerns have been raised about passengers arriving without their belongings against the assurance given them that this would not be the case.