The Member of Parliament for Bawku Central, Mahama Ayariga, has revealed that two Muslim pilgrims from his constituency who took part in the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage are currently unaccounted for, raising fresh concerns over Ghana’s Hajj management system.

Mr Ayariga, who also serves as Majority Leader in Parliament, made the disclosure on the floor of the House, attributing the challenge to language barriers and the advanced age of some pilgrims, which have complicated efforts to track their whereabouts.

“I cannot account for two of my pilgrims. I have been calling our Consular Officer there to help us find where they are because some of them are very old people. You go to an event where there are over one million people attending, they are not educated, and they don’t speak any other language,” he said.

According to the MP, the missing pilgrims may have become disoriented amidst the massive crowds in Saudi Arabia. He noted that many first-time travellers from rural communities often struggle to adapt to the environment due to limited education and lack of familiarity with foreign languages.

“It is becoming very challenging, and this is the first time many of them are venturing outside Ghana, so sometimes when they get there, they get mixed up with other countries,” he added.

Mr Ayariga called for urgent collaboration with the Minister for Foreign Affairs and suggested the enactment of a dedicated Hajj law to regulate pilgrimage organisation more effectively.

“So, when, after the Hajj, we cannot account for our people, the Foreign Affairs Minister is the person we should be working with. I have said that perhaps it is time for this House and the country to have legislation on Hajj instead of it just being a committee,” he stated.

His concerns were echoed by former Minister for Defence and MP for Bimbilla, Dominic Nitiwul, who urged the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs to brief Parliament on the management of the 2025 pilgrimage.

In response, the Minister of Local Government, Ahmed Ibrahim said the House would be duly briefed once the Hajj Committee, led by Collins Dauda, submits its report.

“In briefing Parliament, you must be on point. You are asking this question to help this country prevent further recurrence. A report will be submitted. Let’s exercise restraint. When a report is submitted by Collins Dauda’s committee, then we can come and brief you appropriately,” he said.

Case of mistaken death adds to confusion

The revelation comes on the heels of a bizarre incident involving Fatima Kassim, a Ghanaian pilgrim from Madina, who was wrongly declared dead in Saudi Arabia, prompting her family to hold a funeral. She later returned home alive, sparking confusion and fear among residents.

According to Hajj Taskforce officials, the mix-up resulted from the mistaken identity of two patients without passports at a Saudi hospital. One was travelling under a tourist visa, while the other was part of the official Ghanaian delegation.

“We have mistaken identity. The most important thing is that the lady is alive and everything is over,” said Alhaji Amadu Sorogho, a member of the Hajj Taskforce.

Alhaji Iddi Sumaila, Director of Administration of the Hajj Taskforce, further explained: “Usually, when it happens, it is the embassy that takes control, so they issued the certificate. So we knew that one was gone and one was on admission — mistakenly, we exchanged it.”

The incidents have raised fresh calls for greater oversight, reforms, and systems to safeguard the welfare of pilgrims.