MAHAMA SAYS HAJJ FARES MAY DROP IF CEDI REMAINS STRONG

President John Dramani Mahama has suggested that Hajj fares in Ghana could decrease further if the local currency, the Ghanaian cedi, continues to maintain its current strength. His comments come in the wake of a significant reduction in the cost of the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage, which his campaign team attributes to strategic negotiations rather than government subsidies.

The new Hajj fare has been reduced from GH¢75,000 to GH¢62,000, marking a 17.3% cut—equivalent to approximately $4,130 at an exchange rate of GH¢15 to the US dollar. The reduction was achieved through a series of negotiations with key service providers in Saudi Arabia, including those responsible for accommodation and catering. However, airfare costs remained unchanged due to global increases in fuel prices.

Mahama emphasized that the Hajj is a sacred spiritual obligation, not a commercial opportunity. He cautioned against turning the pilgrimage into a business venture and reiterated his commitment to transparency and fairness in the process. Any surplus funds, he said, should be redirected into development initiatives for Zongo communities across Ghana.

A five-member task force, led by Member of Parliament Collins Dauda, was responsible for overseeing the negotiations that led to the fare reduction. The team also arranged a pre-financing deal with a local bank, allowing major expenses for the pilgrimage to be covered in advance. This move is intended to ease financial pressure on prospective pilgrims and streamline the overall payment process.

While the stability of the cedi contributed positively to the pricing, Mahama clarified that the recent fare reduction was primarily the result of effective planning and negotiations. Nonetheless, he believes that if the cedi continues to hold strong against the dollar, it could pave the way for even more affordable Hajj fares in the future.