Story By: Akua Oteng Amponsah
President John Mahama is giving hope to thousands of Ghanaian Muslims with a promise of lower Hajj fares next year should the cedi continue its resilience.
This he says, shows his government’s deep commitment to their welfare.
Addressing a gathering during the Eid-ul-Adha celebrations at the Black Star Square, the President acknowledged the financial burden many families face when planning the sacred pilgrimage to Mecca.
He assured the Muslim community that his administration is actively working with partners to bring the cost down.
The President also announced steps to improve Islamic education in Ghana. He said he has directed the Minister for Education to strengthen the operations of the Islamic Education Unit.
This includes expanding the recruitment and training of qualified Arabic instructors across the country.
“On the matter of Hajj, I’m deeply aware of the financial burden it has placed on many Muslim families. This year, despite efforts, the cost remain high, even though we cut it. But I want to assure you that we are working closely with the relevant agencies and our Saudi counterparts, and if Allah accepts our supplications, and the Cedi continues to show the recent strength that it has shown, I’m optimistic that next year we’ll see a very significant drop in the Hajj fare. Indeed if the Muslims who went this year were going at this time, the Hajj fare would be something like 45,000 cedis. Additionally, in response to the long standing appeals from the Muslim community, I wish to announce that we have prepared a bill to designate the additional holiday of Eid al-Fitr as a public holiday. And this would soon be presented to Parliament. It means that it will be a law, it will no longer be by executive instrument. This new (holiday) recognises the profound spiritual importance of the festival of Eid al-Fitr in Muslim life.”
