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Alhaji Ayaana, a 65-year-old businessman and philanthropist from Tamale, has announced plans to walk over 250 kilometers from Kumasi to Accra to attend the swearing-in ceremony of President-elect John Dramani Mahama on January 7, 2025.
Alhaji Ayaana intends to travel by vehicle from Tamale to Kumasi and then embark on his three-day journey on foot, starting on January 5. He described the initiative as a gesture to honor Mahama’s victory in the 2024 presidential election.
This symbolic journey is not Alhaji Ayaana’s first. In 1997, he reportedly walked in celebration of former President Jerry John Rawlings’ second-term inauguration. In 1999, he organized a 16-kilometer peace and health walk in Tamale to promote national unity and health.
Alhaji Ayaana announced his upcoming trek on December 21, after completing a 19-kilometer health walk from the Yakubu Tali International Airport to the Jubilee Park in Tamale. This event was organized to celebrate the peaceful conduct of Ghana’s 2024 elections and express gratitude to Ghanaians for voting overwhelmingly for the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Alhaji Ayaana urged President-elect Mahama to fulfill campaign promises, particularly reducing the cost of Hajj for Ghanaian Muslims. He highlighted the significant financial burden, noting that pilgrims paid between GH¢40,000 and GH¢75,000 in 2024.
Additionally, he called for the decentralization of visa issuance and biometric verification processes to regional centers, easing the logistical challenges faced by pilgrims from northern Ghana.
Joining the announcement was Baako Alhassan, a traditional healer, who praised Alhaji Ayaana’s commitment as a symbol of resilience and patriotism. He emphasized the health benefits of physical exercise and encouraged others to follow suit in fostering national unity and well-being.
