Chief Imam commends Hajj Board, urges continuous improvement

The National Chief Imam, Shaikh Dr Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, has commended the Chairman of the Ghana Hajj Board, Alhaji Abdul Rauf Ibrahim Tanko, and his team for their handling of this year’s Hajj operations, while urging them not to become complacent.

In a statement issued on June 9, 2026, the Chief Imam said the Board had acquitted itself well in the organisation of the pilgrimage and deserved recognition for its efforts. He also praised President John Dramani Mahama and the government for the support extended to the Board throughout the exercise.

At the same time, Shaikh Dr Sharubutu cautioned against viewing the outcome of this year’s operations as flawless.

“Excellence is not a synonym of perfection,” he said, adding that the pursuit of excellence should not breed complacency. According to him, excellence is a humbling and continuous endeavour that must always leave room for improvement.

The Chief Imam congratulated Ghanaian pilgrims and prayed for Allah to accept their Hajj.

He urged the Muslim community to celebrate the outcome of Hajj 2026 in unity, saying the organisation of the pilgrimage was a collective national responsibility that transcended political and ethnic considerations.

He also spoke about the broader relevance of the pilgrimage, explaining that Hajj in contemporary times had gone beyond its spiritual dimension to serve as a means of promoting relations and cultural understanding among nations.

Shaikh Dr Sharubutu further urged Ghanaian pilgrims returning from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to conduct themselves in a manner befitting ambassadors of the country.

He said values such as decency, humility, stability and unity exhibited by returning pilgrims contributed to shaping Ghana’s image on the international stage.

The statement was issued by the Chief Imam’s Personal Assistant, Dr Abubakar Mohammed Marzuq Azindoo.