Muslim Pilgrims Urged To Be Law Abiding During Hajj

Muslims travelling to Mecca for this year’s Hajj, have been urged to be law abiding and disciplined during the pilgrimage. Alhaji Mohammed Amin, Deputy Communications Director, Pilgrims Affairs Office of Ghana, told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview in Accra, that one responsibility of pilgrims was to know the rules of the Hajj and abide by them. “This is an annual event, and the true essence of the Hajj is about showing reverence to God. Pilgrims should make sure they do not take along contraband items such as cola nuts, pomade and narcotic drugs,” he said. He cautioned, that if any pilgrims, decided to indulge in activities that had nothing to do with the Hajj and got into trouble as a result, they would have to realize that it would not be fair to saddle the Hajj authorities with such problems. Alhaji Amin added that a new universal bagging system had been introduced for this year’s Hajj. He said each pilgrim would be allowed two big bags as main luggage, a ten kilogram bag for hand luggage, and a wrapper around the waist, which would contain documents. “The problem of people coming in with more bags than could be allowed has been a perennial problem, and that has led to this new bagging system,” said Alhaji Amin. The first batch of pilgrims in Ghana, are expected to leave the Kotoka International Airport today, Thursday September 3rd, 2015, for the Holy city of Mecca, for this year’s Hajj. A total of five thousand four hundred and twenty four (5424) Muslim pilgrims, are expected to leave the country to perform this year’s Hajj in Mecca. This number would be ferried over from the Kotoka International Airport in Accra in twelve flights and twelve batches respectively. The last batch and flight is expected to leave Accra on September 14th.

Source: GNA