By Lawrence Odoom/Phalonzy
The spiritual journey for more than 6,000 Ghanaian pilgrims embarking on the 2026 Hajj commenced at dawn on Friday, as boarding procedures for the inaugural flight to Madina began in Tamale at approximately 4:00 a.m.
Tamale has been designated as one of the principal departure hubs for this year’s sacred pilgrimage to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Of the 19 chartered flights scheduled to convey pilgrims, nine will lift off from Tamale, with the remainder departing from Accra as the nationwide airlift exercise unfolds.
Addressing journalists on Friday, May 1, Communications Director of the Pilgrimage Affairs Office, Mohammed Amin Lamptey, affirmed that operations had proceeded seamlessly since commencement.
He noted that a meticulous flight schedule had been instituted to guarantee an orderly and efficient conveyance of all pilgrims within the stipulated timeframe.
“We have almost about 18 flights to do starting from today. We have developed a programme order that we are following for a successful uplifting,” he said.
Mr. Lamptey expressed unwavering confidence that this year’s Hajj would rank among the most meticulously organised in Ghana’s history, stressing that lessons gleaned from previous challenges had been rigorously integrated into the current planning framework.
He further assured the public that comprehensive logistical measures had been deployed to ensure a smooth, dignified, and secure passage for all pilgrims as the airlift operation continues in the coming days.