Swearing in the Board at the Presidency in Accra on Friday, President Mahama said the new Board must bring to bear on its function efficiency, transparency, and innovation.

“I expect this board to work with precision and integrity in five critical areas. The first is early and predictable planning. Begin preparations immediately for the next Hajj. Announce schedules, registration processes, and cost structures promptly for pilgrims and agents so they can plan effectively. Last minute changes must become a thing of the past.

“The second is transparency and accountability. Pilgrims and their families must know how their money is used. All payments must pass through approved traceable channels. No unofficial levies, no hidden charges. Transparency builds trust, and trust is a currency of leadership.

“The third is safety, health, and welfare. Please coordinate with the Ghana Health Service, the Ministry of Transport, and our embassy in Riyadh to guarantee safe travel, decent accommodation, and adequate medical support. Happily we have a doctor, a heart surgeon on the Hajj board this time, so I’m sure that the health issues will be well managed. Pay special attention to elderly pilgrims, women, and persons with disabilities. Their comfort is also a sacred duty of the Hajj board.

“Then the fourth, every official from the board members to volunteers must act with courtesy, discipline, fairness, and honesty. Our pilgrims should feel respected at every point from registration to their safe return home.

“And the fifth is partnership and communication. Keep open and constant engagement with the Office of the National Chief Imam, with your regional imams, with our travel partners and agents, and especially with the Saudi authorities. Coordination prevents crisis and communications prevents rumors,” he outlined.

The government, President Mahama said would provide the necessary policy and logistical support to ensure the success of the pilgrimage; a support that must go hand in hand with accountability.

“The Hajj board must operate under clear guidelines, with periodic reporting to the Office of the Chief of Staff. At the end of each Hajj season, I expect a comprehensive report that covers the finances, logistics, health, and safety outcomes, and the lessons learned to be presented to the Chief of Staff for preparation for the following year,” he directed.

According to him, the time has come for a paradigm shift from how Hajj used to be organised in the past to one where efficiency, honesty, and service would define every stage of the pilgrimage process.

“You are being entrusted with a clear mandate to plan, manage, and execute all matters relating to the annual Hajj in a manner that reflects Ghana’s highest standards,” he said.

The Administrator of the Board, Shaibu Mahama, on behalf of the Chair, Alhaji Ibrahim Tanko, and members expressed their appreciation to President Mahama for the trust reposed in their competences.

He assured of their readiness and willingness to work diligently for an incident free Hajj for pilgrims.

Mr Mahama, MP, Daboya-Mankarigu, expressed the confidence that the new Hajj Board would execute its mandate to dignify pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam.