The Ghana Hajj Taskforce has issued a statement clarifying media reports that two Ghanaian pilgrims sponsored by the Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Hon. Mahama Ayariga, have gone missing during the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.
According to a recent new report by GHOne Television, Hon. Ayariga was quoted as saying, “I am unable to account for two pilgrims under my care who participated in this year’s Hajj.”
This statement prompted concerns and raised questions about the safety and tracking of Ghanaian pilgrims abroad.In response, the Ghana Hajj Taskforce in a statement stated that every pilgrim who traveled under the official arrangements of the Taskforce has been fully accounted for. “No case of missing pilgrim has been reported under the official Ghana Hajj quota,” the statement clarified.
Following preliminary investigations conducted jointly with Ghana’s consulate in Jeddah, the Taskforce identified the two individuals in question as Inusah Ramatu and Sali Hawa. Further verification confirmed that “these individuals did not travel under the official Ghana Hajj quota. Instead, they entered the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia using tourist visas,” the statement noted.
The Taskforce explained that the use of tourist or so-called “Bango” visas to enter Saudi Arabia for Hajj violates Saudi regulations and falls outside the jurisdiction of the Ghanaian Hajj authorities. It added that several individuals who entered the kingdom through unofficial means have been detained or arrested by Saudi authorities in recent weeks.“The MP’s information is verifiable,” the Taskforce acknowledged, but stressed that the responsibility for such individuals does not lie with the official Ghanaian Hajj system.
The statement also came with a strong advisory: “We strongly advise 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 beyond our protection.”The Ghana Hajj Taskforce reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the well-being of all Ghanaian pilgrims. “We remain committed to ensuring the safety, dignity, and proper facilitation of all Ghanaian pilgrims,” it concluded.
