Pilgrims depart for Hajj

About 940 Ghanaian pilgrims have so far left for Jedda, Saudi Arabia fore this year's Hajj.

The remaining 63 are expected to leave tomorrow morning.

Alhaji Alhassan Yakubu, leader of the pilgrims told newsmen in a pre-departure interview that the number of pilgrims to this year's Hajj has dwindled.

He attributed this to the increasing cost of the Hajj, which was 1,400 dollars, about 10 million cedis involving airfare in and out, accommodation and transportation.

Commenting on the delay in sending pilgrims last Wednesday, Alhaji Yakubu said the problem was an operational one on the part of Nigeria Airways.

He said there was an agreement between the Hajj Committee and Nigerian Airways to use a bigger aircraft to transport the pilgrims alongside other airlines.

Nigeria Airways however, sent in a small aircraft, leaving behind some pilgrims scheduled to leave on last Wednesday's flight.

Alhaji Yakubu said the Hajj Committee had to fall on Ghana Airways to save the situation this evening.

"For economic reasons we engaged the services of various airlines, including Ghana Airways to transport the pilgrims to Jedda," he said.

He expressed surprise at a TV news report on alleged agitation over the delay of the pilgrims, saying most of the people shown on TV were well-wishers and family members who had come to see the pilgrims off.

He said the committee does its best to ensure that all arrangements are done before the departure date but added that 90 per cent of the pilgrims do their payment about two weeks to the time making it difficult to speedily process their travelling documents.