Ghana sends Hajj advance team to Saudi Arabia

An advance team of the National Hajj Committee (NHC) on Wednesday left Accra for Saudi Arabia, Mr Abdulai Nashiru, Executive Secretary of the NHC disclosed to the Ghana News Agency.

The team comprised Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Tanko, Executive Liason Officer as leader, Dr Mbiniwaya Mahamadu, Head of Medical team, Dr Salima Asam Moro and Dr Osman Abdulai and Mrs Salamatu Yamusah, medical staff.

The others were Mahamadu Issahaque, Issahaque Saeed Bagre and Rukaya Abubakar, all Welfare Officials, Alhaji Mahazu Ibrahim Saiko, Housing Official and Mr Issifu Braimah, Security Official.

Mr Nashiru said the Hajj Secretariat would keep the advance team updated on flight schedule and movement and all other correspondents.

He said the team was to meet the Consular General at the Ghana Embassy to make the necessary arrangement pending the arrival of the Pilgrims.

Mr Nashiru explained that Mr Ibn Tanko was to put together the taskforce to inspect all houses and lock them to avoid invasion by other nationals and organize the taskforce into groups to cater for the houses in both Makkah and Madinah.

He said the pilgrims would be accommodated based on the agency and the taskforce officials would be assigned to do periodic checks in the rooms together with the agents to avoid any hitches.

Mr Nashiru added that pilgrims’ passports will be deposited in the custody of the Consular General, Visa Consular and other officials who were designated and that the distribution of the passports to and from the Airport would be done by the Consular General.

He said no any other unauthorized officials shall request the distribution of the passport unless with the authority from the appropriate authorities.

Source: GNA