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We can account for Every Pilgrim who traveled to Saudi Arabia – Hajj Taskforce

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Published on Wednesday July 16 2025

Published at 11:01Pm

Ghana Hajj Taskforce has clarified that every Pilgrim who traveled under the official arrangements of the Ghana Hajj Taskforce for the 2025 pilgrimage has been fully accounted for, and no missing pilgrim has been reported.

This clarification follows a statement attributed to the Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga purportedly stating that he is unable to account for two pilgrims under his care who participated in this year’s Hajj.

In a letter issued by the Hajj Taskforce today, Wednesday 16th August 2025, they said the two People in question had not traveled with them, indicating that preliminary investigations conducted by the Hajj Taskforce in collaboration with Ghana’s
The consulate in Jeddah has identified the two individuals as Inusah Ramatu and Sali Hawa, confirming that these individuals did not travel under the official Ghana
Hajj quota, emphasizing that they entered Saudi Arabia with a Tourist Visa, which contravenes Saudi Laws for the Hajj Pilgrimage.

The Hajj Taskforce also noted that the MP
has even reported the incident to Ghana’s Embassy in Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, the Taskforce stated that the victims are part of a wider group who sought to perform Hajj through illegal means, admonishing all prospective pilgrims to follow the officially approved procedures for Hajj by acquiring a valid Hajj visa through accredited agents and the Taskforce, insisting that other route is illegal, unsafe, and outside the jurisdiction or protection of the Ghana Hajj authorities.

Below is the press statement

The attention of the Ghana Hajj Taskforce has been drawn to a media publication by GHOne Television, in which the Majority Leader and Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Hon.Mahama Ayariga, is reported to have stated:

“I am unable to account for two pilgrims under my care who participated in this year’s Hajj.”

The Ghana Hajj Taskforce wishes to clarify as follows:

Every pilgrim who traveled under the official arrangements of the Ghana Hajj Taskforce for the 2025 pilgrimage has been fully accounted for, and no missing pilgrim has been reported.

Preliminary investigations conducted by the Hajj Taskforce in collaboration with Ghana’s
The consulate in Jeddah has identified the two individuals as Inusah Ramatu and Sali Hawa.

Further verification has confirmed that these individuals did not travel under the official Ghana Hajj quota. Instead, they entered the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia using tourist visas, a practice which contravenes Saudi regulations for the Hajj pilgrimage.

We can also confirm that, the MP
has reported the incident to Ghana’s Embassy in Saudi Arabia on the matter and this information is verifiable.

The victims are part of a wider group who sought to perform the Hajj through illegal means. It is well known that several individuals who entered Saudi Arabia using non-Hajj (tourist or“Bongo”) visas have been arrested or detained by Saudi authorities.
The Ghana Hajj Taskforce strongly advises all prospective pilgrims to follow the officially approved procedures for Hajj by acquiring a valid Hajj visa through accredited agents and the Taskforce.

Any other route is illegal, unsafe, and outside the jurisdiction or protection of the Ghana Hajj authorities.

We remain committed to ensuring the safety, dignity, and proper facilitation of all Ghanaian pilgrims.

Story by: Inusah Dondaliya

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GALOP Project: Tamale Mayor cuts sod for construction of 6-unit classroom block at Zakaliyili

Published by Inusah Dondaliya

25th February 2026

The Mayor of Tamale, Adam Abukari Takoro has cut sod for construction of 6-unit classroom block at Zakaliyili, a farming community under Tamale South Constituency, aimed at increasing access to education and providing educational infrastructure to communities where there are no public schools.

This reflects the wish of the community members as access to basic education has been a challenging one to their kids due to lack of community basic school, resulting to their children trekking several distant kilometers to seek education.

Following the ground breaking ceremony for the commencement of the construction of the 6-unit classroom block on Tuesday 24th February 2026, by the Tamale Mayor, the predicament of the children with school going-age will soon be over as the project is expected to be completed in 8 months’ time.

Hon. Abu Takoro cut the sod on behalf of the Education Minister and MP for Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu under whose influence the project came to fruition through Ghana Accountability for Learning Outcomes project known as GALOP.

It forms part of shared commitment and responsibility of the MP and the Tamale Mayor not to only increase access to education within the area but to also ensure inclusive education at all stages especially at the basic level.

The Chief and and elders of Zakaliyili joined the Mayor and his team at the project site in the community to break the ground for the work to start in earnest.Also, Accompanying the Mayor for the sod cutting ceremony were officers from the Planning and Engineering department of the Tamale Metro Assembly and other senior staff.

Addressing the Chief and the elders during his courtesy call to the community Palace prior to the ground breaking ceremony, the Mayor urged the community members to collaborate with the contractors for smooth work on site, admonishing them to serve as watchdogs of the project against any theft of construction materials among other forces that can work against the progress of the work.

He also urged the engineers in charge of the project to hire the unskilled labor within the community as laborers for the construction works.

On behalf of the community, the chief expressed his happiness over the project, noting that children who hitherto move to long distances in search of education in other communities will soon heave a sigh of relief now.

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Ramadan: Alhaj Farhan supports selected mosques in Tamale with food items

Published by Inusah Dondaliya

20th February 2026

Some Selected Mosques in Tamale have received food and assorted items from the Managing Director of Ghana Commercial Bank, Alhaji Farhan Alhassan, aimed at supporting Ramadan Festive season.

The gesture by Alhaj Farhan Alhassan forms part of his philanthropic drive of giving back to the society through GCB’s Corporate Social Responsibility.

The beneficiary Mosques include Anbariya Mosque, Bambawuyya Mosque, and Tamale Central Mosque.

Each mosque received 30 bags of rice, 10 bags of sugar, 10 cartons of milk, 10 cartons of Milo, and 10 cartons of Lifton Tea. In addition, they were each gifted with 10,000 Ghana Cedis.

On behalf of the various Mosques, their representatives expressed profound gratitude to the MD for the gesture, praying to Allah for only not rewarding him back abundantly but shield him from evil in his field of work.

On his part, the MD of GCB, Alhaj Farhan Alhassan mentioned that the Bank is embarking on this gesture as part of its corporate social responsibility.

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Hon. Patrick Boamah donates 200 bags of cement to support construction of NPP N/R party Office

Published by Inusah Dondaliya

19th February 2026

The Member of Parliament for Okaikwei Central, Hon. Patrick Yaw Boamah has committed resources to supporting the construction of NPP Northern Regional Office by donating 200 bags of cement to the Party Regional Executives.

The MP’s gesture forms part of his broader efforts to assist Regional Executives enforce completion of the project.

The Northern Regional Executives led by Chairman Mohammed Batimba Samba, last week, cut sod for construction of multi-purpose regional party office at Zogbeli in Tamale, aimed at ending long- aged problem of renting offices to spearhead party activities in the region including party’s operations and administrative work.

When completed the party office will contain 12 offices, a conference room, and guests rooms. Work is currently ongoing since the sod was cut and is expected to be completed in 6 months period.

Receiving the items, Alhaj Abdul Rahaman Mahama, the Northern Regional Second Vice Chairman of NPP, expressed his profuse gratitude to Hon. Patrick Yaw Boamah for his gesture, assuring that they will put it into good use to complement the construction of the project. He also lauded him for examplary leadership by extending his gesture beyond Greater Accra region to the Northern Region.

Alhaj Abdul Rahaman said “I will stand on behalf of the Regional Chairman and accept the items on behalf of the regional Chairman and say a very big thank you to Honourable Patrick Yaw Boamah and also say that we are so grateful to him for remembering us and also know that as a party man he is exhibiting leadership not only in Accra but all the way to Tamale, he is well appreciated. We will make sure that we put it into good use”.

Other Regional Executives present during the donation were Northern Regional Organizer, Rashid COP and the treasurer.

Patrick Yaw Boamah is a Ghanaian politician and member of the Ninth Parliament of the Fourth Republic of Ghana representing the Okaikwei Central Constituency in the Greater Accra Region on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party.

Boamah entered parliament on 7 January 2013 on the ticket of the New Patriotic Party representing the Okaikwei Central Constituency. He was re-elected in the 2016 ,2020 and 2024 Ghanaian General Election to represent the constituency for a second consecutive term.

In parliament, he has served on various committees, some of which include; the Subsidiary Legislation Committee, the Judiciary Committee, and the Foreign Affairs Committee.

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