THE PILGRIMS' ORDEAL (Published Sat., Dec 15, 2007)

There is a popular saying that “If you fail to plan, you definitely plan to fail.” To a large extent this sums up the mess that has engulfed the 2007 Hajj.
The Daily Graphic has consistently monitored the affairs of the Hajj 2007 from the beginning of its crisis till date, when but for the airlifting of about 300 of the would-be pilgrims, things would have ended in a fiasco. This is a clear lesson to everybody that planning is a very important ingredient in life.
Indeed, it is very embarrassing to hear that the fate of the 2,700 prospective pilgrims to Mecca has been so cruelly decided by some select few who were entrusted with the responsibility of organising this year’s pilgrimage to Mecca. And 499 out of the 2,700 would-be pilgrims are those who could not be airlifted to Mecca last year.
Even though they did not have the opportunity to be airlifted, they still did not get their money back, hoping that this year they will be the first batch to embark on the trip. But this is never to be.
These people have long hoped that the situation would be much better this year, especially when the Hajj Council reassured them of a hassle-free pilgrimage this year.
The Daily Graphic learnt that the hopes of some of the prospective pilgrims began to crumble when the other Islamic organisations — COMOG, FOMWAG and ASWAJ — pulled out from the Hajj Council some time in the middle of this year. Undoubtedly, many Muslims had a chip on their shoulders about this breakaway.
Many Muslim groups, on the other hand, thought that there would be a reconciliation to avoid a stressful pilgrimage this year.
Just a few days after those organisations broke away, an Interim Hajj Management Committee was inaugurated, with the hope that it was going to organise the long-cherished hassle-free Hajj.
Lo and behold, this committee has only caused the nation a big embarrassment because the pilgrimage to Mecca is almost abortive.
Following the mess that the committee made of itself and the Muslim community, President J.A. Kufuor did all he could to get some flights to airlift the stranded pilgrims. Although some of the planes are already in Ghana, they have no landing rights at the Jeddah Airport and so it is extremely difficult to airlift the would-be pilgrims.
The Daily Graphic is of the view that those entrusted with the responsibility of organising Hajj 2007 must be arrested, and if they are found culpable, they must face the full rigours of the law. This is to re-echo what the Minister for the Interior, Mr Kwamena Bartels, said earlier in the week.
Members of the Hajj Committee must also be made to refund the conservative estimate of $7 million they allegedly took from the would-be pilgrims. This committee has demonstrated gross incompetence and a lack of organisational acumen.
The committee has unduly subjected prospective pilgrims to inhumane and cruel experiences. Members of the committee must pay the price for their ineptitude in handling the situation. Never again should this national embarrassment be visited on the country.
Although the pilgrimage was supposed to have been organised as a private initiative, the time has come for the state to commence disciplinary action against those responsible for the Hajj fiasco.
The Daily Graphic is of the opinion that heads must roll to serve as a good lesson to others.