Leader of the 2025 Hajj Task Force, Collins Dauda, has described this year’s Islamic pilgrimage as seamless and successful, crediting the achievement to the government’s commitment to Islamic affairs.
Speaking at the Kotoka International Airport in Accra after the arrival of the first flight carrying the first batch of Accra’s pilgrims, Collins Dauda emphasized that the efforts of the task force, despite public criticisms, yielded a smooth and affordable experience for participants.
Four hundred and twenty-five Ghanaian pilgrims touched down at the Kotoka International Airport on Tuesday June 24 2025 aboard a Lion Air flight from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Their arrival marks the beginning of a series of return flights to Accra from Mecca. Meanwhile, another flight is expected at the Kotoka International Airport Wednesday dawn.
Seven batches of pilgrims have already landed in Tamale.
Family members and well-wishers flooded the Hajj Village to welcome their loved ones. The pilgrims were transported directly from the tarmac for immigration checks and documentation before heading home.
Collins Dauda highlighted key achievements of this year’s Hajj, including improved accommodation arrangements. “For the first time, we secured two five-star hotels near the central mosque, which significantly reduced transportation costs for our pilgrims,” he said.
He also noted a reduction in the overall cost of the pilgrimage, which he believes made it more accessible to many. “When I took over as the leader of the Hajj Task Force, I was tasked to reduce the annual Hajj fee. This year, pilgrims paid GH₵62,000 compared to GH₵75,000 last year.”
Despite early concerns about planning and accommodation in the Holy Land, the Task Force maintains that the 2025 Hajj has been one of the most well-organized in recent years.
Among the first cohort of returnees was TV3’s Volta Regional correspondent, Abdul Faisel Iddrisu, who participated in the pilgrimage and returned with the group.
The return of the pilgrims marks the end of a sacred journey that saw hundreds of Ghanaian Muslims fulfill one of the fundamental pillars of Islam.
