An Islamic scholar and broadcast media executive in Kumasi has formally appealed to President John Dramani Mahama to intervene in efforts to ensure that Ghanaian pilgrims are airlifted directly from the Prempeh I International Airport for the 2026 Hajj.
Sheikh Mohammed Ridwan, Chief Executive Officer of Alpha Radio, in a petition to the President, expressed concern over what he described as the long-standing inability of the Ghana Hajj Board to make Kumasi a departure point for pilgrims travelling to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
He noted that for years, pilgrims from the Ashanti, Bono, Bono East, Ahafo and neighbouring regions have been forced to travel by road to Accra or Tamale before beginning their pilgrimage, a situation he said has caused unnecessary hardship.
According to Sheikh Ridwan, the long road journeys place a heavy physical, emotional and financial burden on pilgrims, especially the elderly and those with medical conditions. He further warned that the frequent use of the congested Accra–Kumasi highway exposes pilgrims to avoidable safety risks.
The petition criticised successive Hajj Boards for failing to adequately engage aviation stakeholders to explore workable solutions, including the chartering of medium-sized aircraft capable of operating from the Prempeh I International Airport.
Sheikh Ridwan also raised concerns about conditions at the Hajj Village in Accra, where he said pilgrims departing through the capital are often subjected to overcrowding, poor sanitation, inadequate accommodation and long waiting periods due to delays and administrative challenges.
He stressed that Hajj is a sacred religious obligation and argued that the state has a responsibility to ensure that pilgrims are treated with dignity and fairness. He said the continued exclusion of Kumasi from international Hajj operations unfairly disadvantages pilgrims from Ghana’s middle belt.
The Alpha Radio CEO therefore urged President Mahama to direct the Ghana Hajj Board to prioritise direct airlifts from Kumasi ahead of the 2026 Hajj season, facilitate the chartering of suitable aircraft, and ensure effective coordination among relevant state agencies and airline operators.
The petition, which was also copied to the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, and the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene, called on the government to take decisive action to guarantee the safety, comfort and dignity of pilgrims from the middle belt.
