The Chief Executive Officer of Alpha Radio, Kumasi, and Chairman of the Ashanti Regional Muslim Peace Committee, Sheikh Mohammed Ridwan, has urged President John Dramani Mahama to direct the Ghana Hajj Board and aviation agencies to make direct Hajj flights from Prempeh I International Airport in Kumasi a reality for the 2027 pilgrimage, arguing that the move would reduce costs and improve travel arrangements for pilgrims from the middle belt.
The appeal came as the Ghana Hajj Board prepared to announce arrangements for the 2027 Hajj season. Sheikh Ridwan said government should conclude the necessary aviation arrangements early to allow airlines and airport authorities to plan effectively for the pilgrimage. He said the airport's recent expansion had created the opportunity for medium-sized aircraft carrying about 300 passengers or fewer to operate safely from Kumasi, making direct Hajj departures possible.
Economic impact
Sheikh Ridwan said introducing direct Hajj departures from Kumasi would reduce the financial and logistical burden on thousands of pilgrims who currently travelled by road to either Accra or Tamale before boarding flights to Saudi Arabia.
He said the proposal would benefit pilgrims from the Ashanti, Bono, Bono East, Ahafo and Western North regions, while reducing pressure on facilities at the Accra Hajj Village, where congestion, accommodation and sanitation challenges had been recorded during previous pilgrimage seasons.
He also called on the Ghana Hajj Board, the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority, Ghana Airports Company Limited and airline operators to work together to establish Kumasi as an official Hajj departure point.
Airport use
According to Sheikh Ridwan, government should ensure that the investment made in upgrading Prempeh I International Airport delivered direct benefits to travellers and communities served by the facility.
"The airport now has the capacity to support Hajj operations, and I believe the relevant institutions should work together to make direct departures from Kumasi possible in 2027. This arrangement improves convenience for pilgrims and also creates better use of the country's aviation infrastructure," he said.
"Pilgrims from the middle belt should not continue to undertake long road journeys before beginning their pilgrimage. A Kumasi departure point reduces travel difficulties, eases pressure on Accra and strengthens the value of the investment made in the airport," he said.