Pilgrims to next year's Haj to pay 3 million cedis

Wa (Upper West), 7 Dec. '98 - Alhaji Issahaku Salia, Chairman of the National Haj Committee has appealed to Moslems, who intend to undertake the Haj to Saudi Arabia, early next year, to pay the approved package of 1,300 dollars or three million cedis, without further delay. He said that since the package was made public about three weeks ago only five prospective pilgrims have paid, saying that some always decide to pay a few days to the departure date and which leads to a lot of inconveniences. Alhaji Salia, also MP for Wa East, made the appeal when he presided over this year's annual Ramadan conference of Moslem chiefs and elders at Wa on Saturday. He explained that landlords in Saudi Arabia usually demand 30 per cent rent in advance, and warned that the committee will be forced to issue a deadline if the trend continued. "Once a person makes up his mind to perform the Haj, he must pay his money speedily and not wait to be reminded'', he said, adding that the committee will not entertain any bitter experiences. Alhaji Salia urged all Ghanaian pilgrims to travel through the Kotoka International Airport and preferably by Ghana Airways, "because we are not likely to bear responsibilities for pilgrims, who travel to Mecca through neighbouring countries.