About thirty-nine female pilgrims from Ghana have been repatriated from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia requires that an adult male relative accompany all ladies less than 40 years old.
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The Pilgrims Affairs Office, Ghana (PAOG) has, however, said it is working with immigration officers and the Saudi Ambassador to Ghana to rectify the problem as soon as possible.“Insha Allah It is our hope that when it is done, the affected pilgrims will return to continue their pilgrimage,” PAOG said in the statement.
The first batch of 500 out of 1500 Muslim pilgrims destined for the Hajj in Mecca departed on Friday 19, 2016 from the Tamale International Airport to Jedda, Saudi Arabia.
The Hajj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, and a mandatory religious duty for Muslims that must be carried out at least once in their lifetime by all adult Muslims who are physically and financially capable of undertaking the journey, and can support their family during their absence.
The gathering during Hajj is considered the largest annual gathering of people in the world.