The Ghanaian Minaret

Accra: Alhaji Collins Dauda, the Head of the Ghana Hajj Taskforce, an interim committee tasked with Hajj management in Ghana, has disclosed that seven Ghanaians have lost their lives while performing the Hajj rites in Saudi Arabia.

They included five women and two men who had been laid to rest in Saudi Arabia.

“Unfortunately, for the 2025 pilgrimage, we have lost seven of our compatriots. Deaths are painful, but death will come when it has to come, and therefore, regrettably, as the case is, we take the opportunity to express our deepest condolences to the families back in Ghana who have been affected in this case,” he said during an interview on Saturday with TV3, a Ghanaian media entity.

The death toll is an increase from the two recorded during the pilgrim airlift phase, which began on May 10.

The figure is, however, far below the death toll of 17 recorded in the previous year’s hajj.

Embarking on the Hajj pilgrimage is a pillar of Islam that is to be fulfilled by Muslims who are capable in terms of wealth and health.

It includes the performance of rites amid high temperatures that could take a toll on persons, leading to health complications such as heat exhaustion, dehydration and dizziness.

Most people who succumb to the vagaries of Hajj are the elderly and persons with underlying health conditions.

Alhaji Dauda said the government was working closely with the Saudi authorities to ensure the safety of its citizens participating in the pilgrimage.

He said they have put in place a robust safety protocol, including providing prompt medical care to pilgrims even in emergency situations.

About 5800 pilgrims coming from Ghana are among the 1.6 million Muslims participating in this year’s Hajj.