The National Hajj Task Force has rendered a formal apology to Ghanaian pilgrims who were unable to embark on this year’s pilgrimage to Mecca, citing logistical challenges and visa complications beyond their control.
Speaking on behalf of the Task Force, Head of Corporate Affairs Alhaji A.B.A. Fuseini extended his regrets to affected pilgrims, expressing deep remorse over the inability to ensure their travel despite their full payments.
“Those pilgrims who paid but were not able to go and had visa problems, we will deal with them, so we can take them along, as well as those on the protocol side,” Alhaji Fuseini assured.
“I need to prefix that with an apology to our pilgrims who, in one way or another, have not been able to fly. I want to apologise to them and seek their forgiveness for our inability to carry them now.”
Addressing widespread reports about deportations, he clarified the nature of the return of five individuals, stressing that their case was a result of administrative errors rather than criminal conduct.
“Some said they were deported, but we choose to use the word ‘repatriated.’ Deportation connotes some criminality, but these people who have returned have not committed any crime. It was an error in the issuance of their visa,” he explained.
Alhaji Fuseini further revealed that efforts were made to rectify the visa issues, but some of these attempts inadvertently worsened the situation.
“Some attempts to realign the visas resulted in some unfortunate mistakes where their visas were withdrawn. I can assure you that we are making every effort to get them to go back.”
This year, approximately 6,000 Ghanaian pilgrims travelled to Saudi Arabia for the 2025 Hajj.
While the majority are continuing the pilgrimage without incident, the Task Force has confirmed the tragic deaths of two pilgrims during the sacred journey. In addition to the fatalities, five individuals were sent back home due to the aforementioned visa complications.
