The Ghanaian Minaret

Accra – Prospective Hajj pilgrims for this year may have to forfeit plans of travelling to Saudi Arabia as the country has decided to close its border to Hajj pilgrims outside the kingdom.

The decision which allows for a limited number of nationals who already reside in the country to perform the annual Islamic rites was based on the devastating impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Ministry of Umrah and Hajj in a statement released on Monday explained that the decision was “to ensure hajj was performed in a safe manner from a public health perspective while observing all preventive measures and the necessary social distancing protocols.”

The ministry also said the decision was in accordance with Islamic teachings which promote the protection of human lives.

Saudi Arabia for that reason intends to complement the efforts of international health organisations to limit the spread of the deadly disease by limiting its number of pilgrims for this year’s hajj.

“In the light of the continuation of the pandemic and the risk of coronavirus spreading in crowded places and large gatherings, and its transmissions between countries,…. it has been decided that hajj for this year will be held whereby a very limited number of pilgrims from various nationalities who already reside in Saudi Arabia will be able to perform it” the statement read.

The disease has so far spread to more than 180 countries with half a million dead and over 7 million infections.