Sheikh I.C Quaye receiving the award
The 2018 hajj operations under the leadership of Sheikh I.C Quaye has commended by the Saudi Arabia Authorities for their comportment and discipline before, during and after the 2018 Hajj operations in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The Board was also recognized as the best performing hajj board due to good services it rendered to Ghanaian pilgrims as well as complying with the rules and regulations giving by the Hajj Authorities in Saudi.
[ads1]This came to light in video made available to Journalists after the Ghana Hajj Board Chairman, Sheikh I.C Quaye and his entourage paid a visit to the authorities in charge of Hajj and Umrah Affairs at Mecca, Saudi Arabia.
According to the Saudi authorities, since the start of the 2018 operation, they never received any information of misconduct by any Ghanaian pilgrim hence their commendation.
They further commended the dedication and hard work of the Ghanaian officials, adding that their action had contributed to the smooth and stress-free Hajj for Ghanaian Pilgrims as compared with the previous years.
The authorities pledged to continue to work with the Ghana Hajj Board to ensure smooth operation next year and suggested for more enlightenment programmes for the Ghanaian pilgrims especially the first time Pilgrims to enable them to understand activities involved in the pilgrimage.
Receiving the Award and a citation, the Chairman of Ghana Hajj Board commended the Saudi authorities for their cooperation, which he said had greatly contributed to the massive success of this year’s hajj operations.
The chairman assured the authorities that Ghanaian pilgrims and officials would continue to adhere to the rules and regulations in Saudi Arabia to ensure massive improvement in the activities of the pilgrimage at all times.
However, the Chairman of the Hajj Board Sheikh I.C Quaye in an interview during the arrival of last batch of pilgrims at the Hajj Village in Accra confirmed that a total of 5,700 Ghanaians were airlifted to performed the pilgrimage this year.
He revealed that three Ghanaian pilgrims were confirmed dead during the 2018 Hajj in Saudi Arabia, adding that all three pilgrims died under natural causes and have since been buried in Mecca.
Explaining the cause of the death, Sheikh I.C Quaye stated that one of the victims died while boarding the aircraft and the second person passed on after observing the rituals in Mecca while the third pilgrim died at a medical facility at the kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
He said the reason why Ghana was adjudged the best was mostly due to the proper food, accommodation, transport and among others things which the board offered to the Pilgrims.
He expressed gratitude to the government, the security agencies who were deployed to the kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Hajj Agents for their support leading to the highly commended hajj operations this year.
He stated that the board will soon hold a press conference to give much details about the awards and the citation as well as acknowledged President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the Vice President Dr. Mahamoudu Bawumia and the Deputy Interior Minister, Hon. Henry Quattey for the support they rendered to the Hajj Board.