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Two Ghanaian pilgrims who traveled to Saudi Arabia for the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage have been reported missing, according to the Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday, July 16, Ayariga, who also serves as the Majority Leader, expressed concern over the whereabouts of the missing individuals, both of whom hail from his constituency. He attributed the disappearance to language difficulties and the advanced age of the pilgrims, many of whom have little to no travel experience and struggle to communicate in Arabic.
“I cannot account for two of my pilgrims,” he stated. “I have been calling our Consular Officer there to help us find where they are because some of them are very old. You go to an event where there are over one million people attending, and they don’t speak any other language.”
He further explained that the crowded conditions and inexperience of first-time travelers contribute to the confusion during the pilgrimage. “Sometimes when they get there, they get mixed up with other countries,” Ayariga added, noting that this makes tracking and coordination extremely difficult.
Ayariga called for stronger legislative support to improve the management of Ghana’s Hajj operations. “Perhaps it is time for this House and the country to have legislation on Hajj instead of it just being a committee,” he said, urging a more structured and accountable framework.
Meanwhile, the Member of Parliament for Bimbilla and former Minister for Defence, Dominic Nitiwul, urged the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs to provide a detailed briefing to Parliament on the overall conduct of the 2025 Hajj.
In response, Minister Ahmed Ibrahim assured the House that a comprehensive report will be delivered once the Hajj Committee, chaired by Collins Dauda, completes its work.
“In briefing Parliament, you must be on point,” he said. “Let’s exercise restraint. When a report is submitted by Collins Dauda’s committee, then we can come and brief you appropriately.”
As efforts to locate the missing pilgrims continue, the incident has reignited calls for reform in the organization of Ghana’s Hajj programme to ensure the safety and wellbeing of participants, particularly the elderly and vulnerable.
