Veep asks pilgrims to be good ambassadors

Vice President Paa Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur, has advised prospective pilgrims of the 2013 Hajj to Saudi Arabia, to be good ambassadors of Ghana.

Mr Amissah-Arthur gave the advice when he officially opened the Hajj Village for the commencement of the pilgrimage in Accra, tonight, September 23.

The Vice President commended the Saudi Arabia Embassy for cooperating with the National Hajj Committee (NHC) for the pilgrimage.

He also lauded the contribution of the Turkish International Cooperation Agency for donating medical equipment to the NHC.

Mr Amissah-Arthur congratulated the NHC for ensuring that the journey is free without any challenge.

Mr Ibrahim Abdul-Rauf Tanko, Chairman of the NHC said the Hajj is in fulfilment of one of the strong pillars of Islam.

He said all measures are put in place to ensure that those who are billed to perform the Hajj do so without any challenge.

Mr Tanko said flight arrangement have been concluded to air lift the   pilgrims in an average of 24- hour intervals.

He said with the support of the Government through the Ghana Health Service, the committee had secured face masks and hand sanitizers, which would insulate the pilgrims from contracting the deadly MERS virus in Saudi Arabia.

The Hajj Village was relocated from the El-wak Stadium, near Burma Camp, to a place closer to the Kotoka International Airport, following the crash of an Allied Cargo plane near the old premises on June 12, 2012.

Source: GNA