No, we didn’t collect money for Medical Screening; Pilgrims Affairs Office denies allegation

Pilgrims Affairs Office of Ghana (PAOG) has dismissed claims that the Ghana Hajj Board is charging illegal medical screening fees or extorting prospective pilgrims for Hajj 2027. [1]

In an official statement released on October 28, 2026, the PAOG clarified several key points regarding the ongoing mandatory health evaluations:

• Saudi Government Mandate: The PAOG emphasised that the medical screening is a mandatory, universal requirement introduced by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. It serves as a strict prerequisite for securing a Hajj visa and is enforced globally across all participating nations, including Nigeria, the UK, the US, and Indonesia.
• Fee Structure Clarification: The GH¢650 screening fee is paid directly to accredited hospitals and designated medical centres executing the health assessments, not to the Ghana Hajj Board. The board’s role remains strictly supervisory to ensure standards are met.
• Timeline of the Exercise: The medical screenings commenced on October 3, 2026, in Tamale and are rolling out across accredited regional hubs.

The board urged the public and all prospective pilgrims to disregard false and misleading social media publications designed to cause panic or confusion.