In a press conference at the Ghana International Press
center on 06 December, 2023, the Patriotic Muslim Front (PMF) predicts that the
Hajj package for 2023 is likely to be increased from US$5,000.00 dollars
to US$7,500.00 due to Cedi depreciation and other prevailing factors, in effect
Pilgrims shall be paying over GH¢100,000.00 due to the free fall of the
Ghanaian Cedi, the analysis of the data shows
that the upwards adjustment of the package is largely
influenced by prevailing exchange rates which in most cases Government
subsidizes or intervenes for the Board to negotiate a favorable exchange rate
for the hajj activities to help make the trip affordable.
In as much as we
oppose subsidy of Hajj pilgrimage, it is equally imperative for government to acknowledge
the fact that pilgrims are helpless when it comes to monetary forex policies.
Patriotic Muslim Front. PMF. Is a coalition of young Muslim
intellectuals, politicians and students whose sole purpose is the advancement
of the course of Islam in the context of religious pluralism, the need for
peace and security and above all else the signification of the Islam. PMF have
been engaged in the references of religious co-existence the demand for
accountability from Muslim leaders and encouraging Muslim youth to be
ambassadors of righteousness.
BELOW IS THE FULL SATEMENT:
PRESS CONFERENCE ADDRESS BY PATRIOTIC MUSLIM FRONT
(PMF)
ON HOW EXCHANGE RATE AFFECT HAJJ FARES IN GHANA AT THE
INTERNATIONAL PRESS
CENTER IN ACCRA ON 6TH DECEMBER 2022
Good morning, friends from the media, ladies and
gentlemen, we are grateful you have been
able to make it to today’s press briefing. Today’s
encounter is particularly important given the
nature of issues we are about to discuss and share with
you.
These issues largely bother on Hajj pilgrimage. But
ladies and gentlemen before we proceed
further into these issues, kindly indulge me to introduce
to you Patriotic Muslim Front. PMF. Is a
coalition of young Muslim intellectuals, politicians and
students whose sole purpose is the
advancement of the course of Islam in the context of
religious pluralism, the need for peace and
security and above all else the signification of the
Islam. PMF have been engaged in the
references of religious co-existence the demand for
accountability from Muslim leaders and
encouraging Muslim youth to be ambassadors of
righteousness.
Having said all this we have observed the manner in which
Pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj) has been
organized in the last few years and the upwards
adjustment of the fares which has generated a
lot of debate with the PMF calling for its reduction.
Quite frankly, many Ghanaian Muslims
whose ambition of going to Hajj or sponsoring their love
ones is being threatened by this
development. unfortunately, however, the value for money
remains constant. Investigations by
PMF revealed that the fares primarily jerked up by
prevailing factors including exchange rate but
for the first time in Nine years, the total package in
2022, went up by 100 percent from
GH¢19,500 to GH¢39,000. According to the Nine years data
on hajj fares analyzed by PMF. “Cost
of exchange rate in Hajj.”
PMF analysis of official documents from Hajj Board showed
that there were no significant
changes of the dollar components of the Hajj fares in six
years. In 2013, for instance, the hajj fare package was US$3,450 which became
GH¢6,800 at the exchange rate of GH¢2.01 to a dollar.
In 2014, the package was US$3,450, which translated into
GH¢9,900 at the exchange rate of
GH¢3.00 to a dollar.
In 2015, the package remained unchanged at US$3,450,
which became GH¢11,900.00 at the
exchange rate of GH¢4.07 to a dollar. In 2016, the
package remained constant at US$3,450, which again translated into GH¢11,900,
at the exchange rate of GH¢3.9 to a
dollar. Again, In 2017, the package was US$3,450, which became GH¢15,000 at the
prevailing exchange rate of GH¢4.40 to a dollar. In 2018, the package slightly rose to 3,500us
dollars, translating into GH¢19,500 at the exchange
rate of GH¢5.30 to a dollar.
In 2019, the package remained US$3,500 which again
translated into GH¢19,500 at the
prevailing exchange rate of GH¢5.38 to a dollar.
Unfortunately, pilgrimage to Makkah in 2020
and 2021 was suspended due to COVID-19, But for the first time in nine years, the
Hajjj package in 2022, went up by 100 percent from GH¢19,500 to GH¢39,500 which translated into
US$5,000 despite the economic challenges,
pilgrims still pay higher than what they paid in 2019.
This means that if the current prevailing
exchange rate of GH¢14.70 to a dollar remains constant in
2023. The package will shoot up by
over 100 percent. The cost of major components of Hajj
package which includes air fare, Makkah
and Madina accommodations, transportation and United
Agents fees have also been increased
slightly which automatically will affect the package for
2023.
PMF is reliable informed that the Hajj package for 2023
is likely to be increased from
US$5,000.00 dollars to US$7,500.00 due to Cedi
depreciation and other prevailing factors
aforementioned ladies and gentlemen, in effect Pilgrims
shall be paying over GH¢100,000.00
due to the free fall of the Ghanaian Cedi, friends from
the media, the analysis of the data shows
that the upwards adjustment of the package is largely
influenced by prevailing exchange rates
which in most cases Government subsidizes or intervenes
for the Board to negotiate a favorable
exchange rate for the hajj activities to help make the
trip affordable. ladies and gentlemen, in as
much as we oppose subsidy of Hajj pilgrimage, it is
equally imperative for government to
acknowledge the fact that pilgrims are helpless when it
come to monetary forex policies. Friends
from the media, if not for the exchange rate, Hajj fare
would have been lower and affordable
like other jurisdiction. In the spirit of this argument,
Muslim Umma through PMF is appealing to
government to arrest the dollar in other to make
pilgrimage to Makkah 2023 affordable. we
would like to use this opportunity to recommend that
2023, Hajj package be announced ahead
of time in order to give more window for intending
pilgrims to adequately prepare for payment.
PMF shall appraise on all developments on Hajj fares in
coming days.
We thank you for coming.
May Allah bless us all !
.......signed.......
Mohammed Adam Haruna
Tel: 0244 118 241
