An additional flight has been secured to airlift the 1500 would-be pilgrims directly from Tamale in the Northern Region to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia to perform this year’s hajj.
This brings to four, the total number of flights arranged to transport all the Muslims from the northern sector of Ghana who are embarking on the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca.
At exactly 3:47pm Friday, the maiden flight carrying a total of 500 would-be pilgrims left the upgraded Tamale International Airport in what has been described as historic.
The decision to fly would-be pilgrims directly from Tamale to Mecca stemmed from the confusion and long delays that have over the years characterised the event as a result of the convergence of all would-be pilgrims in Accra for take-off at Kotoka Int. Airport.
The Tamale Airport is thus to complement and ease the pressure on the Kotoka International Airport.
Ghana’s president, John Mahama, who witnessed the maiden event, toured the inside of the FlyNas airline -Boeing 747-400 – and interacted with the Muslims who are from the Northern, Upper West and East regions.
A statement issued by the Pilgrims Affairs Office of Ghana Saturday said in consultation with all the stakeholders, an addition flight has been added to the three that was arranged.
“It came later to the notice of the Hajj Committee that the three flights allotted the three Northern Regions, which started on August 19 and was expected to end on Sunday August 21, would not be sufficient due to the increased number of Pilgrims,” the statement noted.
The new flight is scheduled to take off from the Tamale Airport on Monday, August 22.
A total of seven flights are expected to leave the Kotoka International Airport in Accra from between August 23 and 30. The Accra flights will cater for those from the southern part of the country.
The Pilgrims Affairs Office of Ghana wishes to take this opportunity to thank FLYNAS and the Saudi Arabia Embassy in Ghana for their cooperation and supports in deliberations before this decision was taken.
Zubaida Ismail|TV3|3news.com|Ghana