PREVENT ANOTHER HAJJ DEBACLE

For a couple of years now, the organisation of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca has been fraught with challenges, compelling the central government to intervene in the otherwise independent arrangement by Muslims to honour one of the five pillars of Islam.
In 2006 and 2007, the inability of the organisers of the Hajj to put in place the necessary arrangements denied hundreds of prospective pilgrims the opportunity to visit Mecca for the valued spiritual endeavour.
About three months to this year’s pilgrimage, there are ominous indications that an intervention is required if prospective pilgrims are to avoid the painful experiences of the past few years.
It is unfortunate that despite the inability of prospective pilgrims to undertake the hassle-free trips to Mecca in recent times, two bodies have emerged on the scene both claiming legitimacy to organise this year’s Hajj.
The two bodies, the reconstituted National Hajj Council (NHC) and the Interim Hajj Management Committee (IHMC), have made references to the frustrations that potential pilgrims faced in the past, as the basis for their emergence on the scene.
The National Chief Imam, Sheikh Usman Nuhu Sharubutu, has made it clear that the IHMC is the only recognised body with the mandate to organise this year’s pilgrimage to Mecca.
He, therefore, informed the NHC to join the IHMC to manage the operations of this year’s Hajj, since his sole concern was to ensure sanity in the management of the Hajj and to achieve the best for the Islamic community.
The reconstituted NHC was formed following recommendations from the National Hajj Conference, which was held in Accra early this year.
Statements from the two Hajj bodies clearly show that their intention is to organise a problem-free Hajj this year so that the ugly spectacle of would-be pilgrims sleeping in the open in Accra, waiting for aircraft to Mecca, will be a thing of the past.
Last year, it took the intervention of the government to get the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to make special arrangements for Ghanaian pilgrims to land in the Kingdom after the Saudi authorities had closed the Jeddah Airport for the commencement of the Hajj.
The DAILY GRAPHIC calls on those entrusted with the responsibility of organising this year’s Hajj to work extra hard so that those who have put together lifetime savings to undertake the Hajj are not disappointed.
Indeed, Hajj is ordained in Islam for Muslims to seek knowledge and learn about other people’s way of life, and experience a different kind of environment from that of their birthplace.
The DAILY GRAPHIC appeals to the organisers of this year’s Hajj to be guided by the spirit of Hajj which includes love, devotion, sacrifice, patience, mercy, harmony and unity in their preparations for the pilgrimage.
What is happening now can only portend more confusion if the two bodies do not bury their differences and join forces to promote a hassle-free pilgrimage.
The belief in the Muslim world is that Hajj brings immense rewards to those who embark on the pilgrimage.
Therefore, no bureaucracy should stand in the way of the pilgrims.
The DAILY GRAPHIC calls on the two groups to bury their differences, come together and organise this year’s Hajj as one devoid of the trauma and anguish of the past few years.
We remind the Muslim leaders of the failures of the past in the hope that they would work towards a strong Hajj planning committee that would would help prospective pilgrims to attain the goals of Hajj.
When this is done, the country will avoid the ordeal of the previous Hajj debacles.