Nat’l Tymes News Desk
GHANA’S Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, H.E. Alhaji Said Saleh Sinare, has described the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage as one of the most successful in recent years, praising the discipline of Ghanaian pilgrims, the hard work of the Hajj management team, and the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama.
Speaking in an exclusive interview in Saudi Arabia with journalist Abdul Wahab Jawando, Ambassador Sinare said the overall organisation of this year’s pilgrimage achieved an impressive success rate of about 92 per cent, marking a significant improvement over previous years.
According to him, the entire Hajj operation — from the departure of the first flight to the arrival of the last group of pilgrims — was carried out smoothly without any major challenges.
He noted that accommodation arrangements in both Madina and Makkah were of a high standard, ensuring comfort and convenience for Ghanaian pilgrims throughout their spiritual journey.
“We may not have achieved 100 per cent perfection, but this year’s Hajj was highly successful. Our people travelled with dignity and were treated with dignity,” Ambassador Sinare stated.
The Ambassador also commended Ghanaian pilgrims for strictly observing Saudi laws and regulations during the pilgrimage.
He revealed that Saudi authorities introduced advanced security systems and maintained strict restrictions on prohibited substances and medications. However, through intensive public education and awareness campaigns before departure, Ghanaian pilgrims complied fully with the rules.
“I am happy that no Ghanaian pilgrim was arrested or found wanting. Our people conducted themselves well and made Ghana proud,” he said.
Ambassador Sinare further applauded the collective efforts of the Hajj Board, its leadership, members, and staff of the Ghana Embassy in Saudi Arabia for their dedication and teamwork in ensuring a successful pilgrimage.
Despite the success, he stressed that efforts were already underway to address minor administrative challenges such as passport processing and visa regularisation issues ahead of next year’s pilgrimage.
He expressed confidence that lessons learnt this year would help Ghana achieve an even higher success rate in 2027. Turning to national leadership, Ambassador Sinare praised President John Dramani Mahama for providing clear direction and accountability across Ghana’s diplomatic missions.
He said the President’s emphasis on performance, investment promotion, tourism development and job creation had brought renewed energy to Ghana’s foreign relations and strengthened the country’s international image.
According to him, the same culture of discipline, planning and accountability promoted by President Mahama contributed significantly to the success of the 2026 Hajj exercise.
“President Mahama is providing visionary leadership and a clear sense of purpose. His commitment to excellence and accountability is inspiring positive results both at home and abroad,” Ambassador Sinare said.
He expressed optimism that with continued collaboration among all stakeholders, Ghana’s Hajj operations would become one of the best organised on the African continent.
Source: Nationaltymes.com
