NATIONAL : Would be pilgrims asked to go home

Mecca

Authorities in Saudi Arabia have blocked the issuance of visas to over 600 prospective Hajj pilgrims from Ghana.

This means those who have not yet acquired their visas should forget about participating in the 2010 Hajj pilgrimage.

Alhaji Abdul Hamid Mohammed Babah, senior disaster control officer for East Ayawaso, revealed the information to Citi News in an interview.

According to him, the Chairman of the Hajj Committee, Alhaji Alhassan Benneh has advised that prospective pilgrims at the Hajj village who have not been issued visas should go  home.

He added that those who live outside the capital should liaise with the various agents for a refund of their monies.

“We have a confirmation from the Chairman that we should tell those who don’t have visas that the visas have been blocked…so they have asked us to tell those who come from far that they should pack their bags and go and liaise with their various agents for a refund or keep the money in the safe account for the subsequent Hajj”.

Some stranded Hajj pilgrims who spoke with Citi News urged the Committee to release their passports to them.

The last batches of would-be pilgrims were expected to leave Accra for Mecca on Tuesday, November 9.

A total of nine flights with an average of 266 pilgrims per flight, have from October 25th, 2010, been ferrying Muslim pilgrims to the Holy city of Mecca, for the 2010 Hajj.

 citifmonline.com

Anita