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Mohammed Fugu
2 minutes read
The Pilgrims Affairs Office of Ghana (PAOG) has confirmed the safe arrival of the earlier batches of Ghanaian pilgrims for the 2026 Hajj in the holy city of Mecca after completing a three-day stay in Madina.
Upon arrival in Mecca, they were warmly received and transported to their designated hotels, where they were expected to rest and prepare for the Hajj rites in the coming days.
The first batch of pilgrims departed Tamale at about 11:30 a.m. on Friday, May 1, 2026, and touched down at 4 p.m. GMT.
So far, five batches of pilgrims have departed Tamale for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to participate in the annual Islamic ritual.
In all, a total of 6000 pilgrims are expected to depart from Ghana in 18 different flights from May 1 to May 18, 2026.
No challenges
The Director of Communication for PAOG, Mohammed Amin Lamptey, indicated that all members of the first batch were in good condition and had not had any challenges.
He attributed the smooth transition from Madina to Mecca to the effective measures put in place by authorities to ensure the safety and well-being of pilgrims.
He further assured families back home of the safety and welfare of their relatives, indicating that adequate arrangements had been made to support the pilgrims throughout their stay.
Advance team
Mr Lamptey added that an advance team had been dispatched to Saudi Arabia to receive the pilgrims both in Madina and Mecca.
He said, “this year, we have enhanced our communication systems to ensure that sensitive information is handled accurately and shared appropriately”.
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Source:
www.graphic.com.gh