Muslim Coalition unhappy with 2005 Hajj

Accra, Feb. 17, GNA - The Coalition of Muslim Organisations (COMOG), Ghana, an umbrella organisation that aims at championing the cause of Muslims in the country on Thursday expressed concern about the organisation and agonising experiences that Ghanaian pilgrims went through during this year's Hajj in Saudi Arabia.

"Much as we acknowledge the fact that in Ghana arrangements for the Hajj have over the years been plagued with problems, there is overwhelming consensus that this year's "has been exceptionally clumsy."

Speaking at a press conference in Accra in reaction to this year's poor Hajj arrangements, Alhaji Major (Rtd) Mohammed Easah, President of the Coalition said the intention of COMOG was to initiate a process aimed at finding a permanent and lasting solution to the perennial crises.

He said COMOG have already held consultations with a broad spectrum of Muslim community leaders in Ghana, including the National Chief Imam and some pilgrims who took part in this year's Hajj at which there was broad agreement among stakeholders that something urgent needed to be done to rectify the situation.

Major Easah also said the pilgrims found it unacceptable where they had to pay again for services and facilities they had already paid for in Ghana as part of the cost of the entire package saying, the affected pilgrims would be justified if they asked the Hajj board for refund.

He said COMOG in conjunction with the relevant stakeholders as well as the entire Muslim community in Ghana would be organising a Hajj conference in March this year, to deliberate on all aspects of Hajj. He said the coalition is also inviting Ulamas, Imams and Opinion leader Scholars as well as concerned Muslims to send proposals and memoranda to the conference.