Former President John Dramani Mahama has vowed the next National Democratic Congress (NDC) government will take steps to make the Hajj pilgrimage more accessible for Ghanaian Muslims.

He indicated the ease of accessibility will be achieved by reducing the cost of Hajj fares.

Addressing the Muslim community during his regional tour, Mr Mahama emphasised the importance of enabling more Muslims to fulfill their religious duties by making the pilgrimage to Mecca more affordable.

“We recognise the significance of the Hajj pilgrimage to our Muslim brothers and sisters. In consultation with the Hajj Committee, the NDC will reduce the cost of Hajj fares to make it easier for more Muslims to perform this important religious duty,” Mahama stated.

He promised that under an NDC administration, the government would prioritise policies that support the Muslim community.

Mahama also highlighted progress made by the NDC government in improving the Hajj experience for Ghanaian pilgrims.

He mentioned the Hajj Village, which was moved to its current location near Kotoka International Airport (KIA), Accra, during his tenure, had been constructed with temporary structures, including tents. However, Mahama reiterated the NDC’s 2020 manifesto had promised to rebuild the Hajj Village into a permanent, modern facility to accommodate pilgrims more comfortably.

“We promised in our 2020 manifesto to replace the temporary tents with permanent housing structures. This would provide a better environment for our Muslim pilgrims, making their experience more comfortable and dignified,” he underlined.

However, Mahama expressed disappointment at what he described as an unfortunate development under the current New Patriotic Party (NPP) government. According to reports, the NPP government has allegedly sold the land on which the Hajj Village is situated.

The former president vowed if the NDC returned to power via the December 7, 2024, elections, they would intervene, address the Hajj fares, and, also, work to ensure the Hajj Village was properly developed, with permanent infrastructure to meet the needs of future pilgrims.