Hajj Board Accused of Massive Scam; Pilgrims Cry for Help
After years of incident-free organization of the annual Pilgrimage to Mecca, this year, a scandal seems to be brewing between some aggrieved prospective pilgrims on one side and the Ghana Hajj Board on the other.
The aggrieved Muslims are crying foul after organizers on Tuesday June 7, 2022, announced new fare for this year’s pilgrimage to Mecca, pegging it at GH¢39, 000.
According to the Board headed by former Greater Accra Regional minister, Sheikh Ibrahim Cudjoe Quaye, prospective pilgrims whose moneys have been with the Board, since 2020, are expected to top up with GH¢7, 000.
But the affected Muslim individuals who have had their moneys with the Board, as a result of the cancellation of the 2021 Hajj, have rejected the latest news, saying it amounts to breach of contract.
They argue that the Board, has breached the contract it entered into with them, in 2021.
They feel scammed because they were assured through a joint communique that they would be exempted from any future increments, as far as, the journey to the Holy land was concerned.
The peeved Muslims paid some GH¢19, 500 in 2020 for the 2021 Hajj.
Unfortunately for them, the Saudi Arabian government cancelled international pilgrimage last year.
The Board gave the prospective pilgrims the option to either take a refund of their money at the time or leave it so that they will be exempted from any increment this year.
The payments of the moneys were made to both the Ghana Hajj Board and Ghana Hajj Agents Associations.
But in a sudden U-turn, on its social media page Tuesday, the Pilgrims Affairs Office of Ghana provided an update on the 2022 Hajj, saying new payment was GH¢39, 000 and that “Old payment (those who paid GH¢19, 500 in 2020 and have their money with the Hajj Board will only make a top up of GH¢7, 000”.
It continued that: “Tentative date for departure from Ghana (Tamale airport) to the kingdom of Saudi Arabia is Friday June 21st (this may or may not change)” adding Tentative date to return to Ghana is Wednesday 20th July, thus from Jeddah airport to Tamale airport. This may or may not change”.
This, the prospective pilgrims, have reacted angrily to, hurling insults on the Board.
While a few have agreed to add the extra fee, others have indicated they will no longer embark on the Hajj and that they are going to get refund of their money citing breach of contract and too short a period to raise the extra GH¢7000.
A copy of the joint-communique between the Hajj Board and the prospective pilgrims represented by the Ghana Hajj Agents Association, dated June 2021, sighed by Shiekh I. C. Quaye and Chairman of the Association, has been sighted by The Anchor.
The four point communique meeting was held at the Hajj Village in Accra on June 20, 2021.
It said that as a result of the announcement by the Saudi Government Ministry of Hajj and Ummrah Affairs, that Hajj 2021 is cancelled for international pilgrims, they have collectively per their last joint communique met to agree upon on four point issues.
The communique continued on it first point saying “ Pilgrims who paid directly to the Hajj Board and wish to receive a refund of their Hajj fare for 2020 payments, must apply to the Hajj Board for their refund to be paid expeditiously.
Pilgrims who paid via their agents and wish to receive a refund of their Hajj fees (for 2020 payment) must apply to the Hajj Board for their 2020 Hajj fee payments to be paid expeditiously”.
The third read “Pilgrims who wish to retain their Hajj fee deposits with the Hajj Board for 2020 Hajj, will be exempted from paying any increment in the Hajj fare for 2022”.
While the fourth said “Pilgrims who via their agents, wish to retain their Hajj fee deposits with the Hajj Board (for 2020 Hajj), will be exempted from paying any increment in the Hajj fare for 2022”.
The communique concluded that “The Hajj Board will ensure, that all monies paid by pilgrims directly to the Hajj Board, or via their agents for the 2020 Hajj, will be paid in full per the above arrangements”.
One concerned Muslim who expressed disgust about the request to top up wondered how come moneys kept with the Board in a bank for two years, did not yield any interest to the extent that, the Board is demanding additional GHc7000?
Salifu Abdul-Dahim said “Meanwhile, they (those who paid their moneys two years ago) were told in a joint communique signed by Board Chairman I C Quaye and Chairman of the Ghana Hajj Agents Association, that the “Pilgrims who via their agents wish to retain their Hajj fee deposits with the Hajj Board (for 2020 Hajj) will be exempted from paying any increment in the Hajj fare for 20”.
He posed this question “For two years, the monies were in the bank. Didn’t the Board invest the money? What interest was accrued on the money? Is the owners of such monies not entitled to such interests?
Granted that the monies were not even invested, does it mean there was no form of interest accrued on the monies saved at the bank? I believe the bankers reading this should come to help us on this issue”.
He continued “It is not enough to claim that due to increment in taxes and other payments demanded by the Saudi government, there is the need for those who pad their monies in 2020 to make top ups, even if it is a Ghc100.00. Because there was an agreement.
Is the Board not breaching or going contrary to their own agreement with the prospective pilgrims?”
Another person, Princess Alan Fad commented “I swear I will take my money back because I paid for my mom in 2019.
You said 2000 which some of us paid and now u are telling us to pay additional 7000. Hmmm”.
Source: http://Anchorghana.com
