Prospective Hajj pilgrims to undergo mandatory medical examination
The national Hajj programmes coordinating agency, the Pilgrims Affairs Office of Ghana (POAG), has introduced a mandatory medical examination and certification for all prospective pilgrims.
This means all prospective candidates for the Hajj 2026 pilgrimage must obtain the medical certification before embarking on the religious exercise to Saudi Arabia.
“This directive is in accordance with new guidelines governing the issuance of Hajj visas by the Saudi Ministry of Health and the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, which require comprehensive medical screening to determine the health eligibility of pilgrims before visa approval,” a statement issued by the POAG said.
It emphasised that the Certificate of Medical Fitness issued upon completion of the medical examination is a mandatory prerequisite for Hajj visa application and approval.
Accredited screening centres
Consequently, the POAG has said the Ghana Hajj Medical Team, in collaboration with accredited health institutions, would conduct the mandatory medical examinations across all accredited centres in the various regions of the country.
“The medical screening process will include the submission of medical, surgical, and drug history, a physical examination, and a series of laboratory and diagnostic tests,” the statement signed by the Head of Medicals, POAG, Dr Alhaji Abdul Samad Tanko, added.
Aside from the regular basic tests, there would also be urine pregnancy tests, an Electrocardiogram (ECG), as well as any other investigations deemed necessary by medical professionals.
POAG is working with accredited Hajj agents to reach out to all prospective pilgrims to schedule them for designated centres.
“To ensure a smooth, orderly, and timely process, applicants are to wait for their designated turn and adhere strictly to the communicated schedules,” the statement added.
It assured all Hajj 2026 applicants that strict confidentiality would be maintained regarding all medical records, in line with professional medical ethics and data protection standards.
Background
A fortnight ago, POAG stopped receiving payments for the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage with immediate effect.
The decision was intended to effectively manage pilgrim numbers and ensure a smooth, orderly and well-coordinated pilgrimage process for all confirmed participants.
Ghana’s quota for the 2026 Hajj is around 6,000.
President John Dramani Mahama last year slashed the Hajj fare for Ghanaian Muslims from GH¢75,000 to GH¢62,000 for the 2025 pilgrimage, making it more affordable and the lowest in the sub-region.
He further reduced the fare to GH¢60,000 for this year.
The decision followed negotiations by the Hajj Taskforce with service providers in Mecca and Medina, aiming to ease the financial burden and promote accessibility, despite past debts left by the previous administration.
Making the pilgrimage accessible was a key promise of President Mahama to the Muslim community.
The government, through PAOG, signed key agreements between Ghana and Saudi Arabia in November last year during the 2026 Hajj and Umrah Conference in Jeddah.
The deal marked a major milestone for this year’s pilgrimage.
