The Head of Corporate Affairs at the Hajj Taskforce, Alhaji A.B.A. Fuseini, has clarified that the two Ghanaian pilgrims reported missing during the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia did not travel under the official Hajj arrangement.
His comments come in response to concerns raised in Parliament by Bawku Central MP and Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, who disclosed that two pilgrims from his constituency were currently unaccounted for after the pilgrimage.
Speaking to the matter on Citi Eyewitness News on Thursday, July 17, A.B.A. Fuseini acknowledged Ayariga’s stature as a seasoned legislator but suggested that the Majority Leader may have been misinformed.
“The Majority Leader is a very accomplished legislator… but unfortunately, on this one, the briefing was not right. Maybe the person who gave him the briefing misled him,” he said.
Fuseini stated emphatically that the individuals in question did not travel under the auspices of the Hajj Taskforce but rather used tourist visas to perform the pilgrimage — a move that falls outside the sanctioned Hajj protocols.
“Incontrovertible facts of this matter are that the people went with a tourist visa… These people did not go with Hajj visas, and for that matter, I am sure that the tourist visa brought them whatever trouble it was,” he added.
The clarification comes amid growing concerns in Parliament over the handling of this year’s Hajj and calls for better regulation of the annual pilgrimage. Ayariga had earlier noted that language barriers and the advanced age of some pilgrims made it difficult to locate individuals in such a massive crowd, which exceeds a million people.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Ahmed Ibrahim, assured the House that a full briefing on the Hajj will be provided once the official committee submits its report.
Calls for legislation to govern Hajj operations are also gaining traction, with some lawmakers urging for structured oversight to prevent future lapses.
