Ghanaian pilgrims who participated in this year’s Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, have begun arriving in the country.

The first out of seven batches, consisting of over 400 pilgrims, was flown on Friday, June 20, with the last expected back home on Friday, June 27.

Welcoming the Hajj participants at the Yakubu Tali International Airport in Tamale, Chairman of the Hajj Task Force, Alhaji Collins Dauda, lauded the government for conducting one of the most successful and impactful pilgrimages in Ghana's history.

The 2025 Hajj pilgrimage encountered several setbacks, including the death of members of the Hajj community and the repatriation of some pilgrims from Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

The Ghanaian Hajj community lost seven of its members who left for the programme.

Speaking to the media on Saturday, June 7, Alhaji Collins Dauda revealed that the deceased include five women and two men. All seven have since been buried in Saudi Arabia, as per Islamic customs.

He explained that six of the seven individuals who died were elderly and had pre-existing health conditions before traveling to Mecca.

“From our contingent, I can confirm six deaths. We have received information about a seventh person who also passed away, but he did not travel with the official group. He went on a tourist visa. Nevertheless, he is Ghanaian. Those who died were elderly and had underlying health conditions. It was not our wish for this to happen, but it was the will of Allah,” he said.

Due to visa-related issues, five pilgrims could not participate in the mandatory religious duty for all Muslims as they were repatriated back to the country.

“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.

“Some attempts to realign the visas resulted in some unfortunate mistakes where their visas were withdrawn.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,” he explained.

Approximately 6,000 Ghanaian Muslims traveled to Saudi Arabia for Hajj 2025. These numbers show an increase of 2,000 Ghanaian participants as compared to 4,000 last year.

On Sunday, an incident was reported at the Rafahya Al-Seteen Hotel in Mecca, where hundreds of Ghanaian pilgrims had lodged, causing a temporary evacuation.

Per reports, a structural concern and a fire incident on the 12th floor of the edifice are said to be responsible for the ruckus that occurred on Sunday afternoon, May 25. But the authorities are yet to ascertain the cause of the panic.

Saudi fire and police officials arrived at the scene to ensure all was safe for the residence to return to their various rooms.

This year’s pilgrimage recorded a massive turnout due to the Mahama-led government’s decision to reduce the Hajj pilgrimage fee to 62,000 to 75,000 Ghana cedis under the previous administration.

The Hajj pilgrimage begins on the 8th day of Dhul Hijjah and lasts till the 13th of the month.

In Ghana, Friday, June 6, was declared a statutory public holiday for the Eid al-Adha celebration, which marks the end of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca or Hajj.

Meanwhile, the continuous appreciation of the local currency could reduce the fees Ghanaian Muslims pay to travel to Mecca to perform the Hajj pilgrimage. President John Dramani Mahama announced this during his Thank You Tour in Kintampo in the Bono East Region on Thursday, May 29.

“At the time we started paying for the Hajj, the cedi was at GHC15.5 to the dollar. So, the fare we came up with for the $4,000 cost to do the Hajj came to GHC 62,000. Next year, if you do a calculation with where the Cedi is currently—GHC 10.5—it means the fare for Hajj may go below GHC 50,000,” he said.