The National Hajj board has announced that pilgrims for this year’s Hajj from the 3 Northern Regions will be airlifted from the Tamale Airport to Saudi Arabia.
According to the board, the move will make it convenient for all prospective pilgrims who hitherto had to travel to Accra en route to Saudi Arabia.
The Chairman for the National Hajj board Alhaji Rauf Tanko speaking to Citi News on the new arrangement said such move will reduce the cost incurred by the pilgrims.
“We have actually made the arrangement with the airlines and the airport authorities and stakeholders involve to be able to airlift pilgrims directly from the Tamale Airport Saudi Arabia and back to Tamale,” he said.
Alhaji Tanko explained that in the past, pilgrims from the three regions of the north travelled to Accra when the time was due for them to be airlifted to Saudi Arabia.
“We have challenges with some of the aircrafts landing and taking off in some airports and one of them is the Tamale Airport. But the problem has now been fixed and the aircrafts that come to land in Accra can equally land there. So we will support it to encourage those who will be coming from the three regions of the north to fly from Tamale,” he added.
Usually, persons wishing to embark on such pilgrimage converge in Accra at the Hajj village and sometimes spend some days before they are airlifted to that country.
“ Some of them come and they stay at the camp and perhaps if they were home, people will prepare food and bring to them but here they are not fed, they would have to feed themselves. But once it is in the Northern Region, they have their relatives. So they can choose to stay with their relatives and come when they are supposed to takeoff,” Alhaji Tanko added.
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By: Godwin A. Allotey/ciifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin