The Government of Ghana has introduced a fast-track system to speed up passport processing for Hajj pilgrims, ensuring a more seamless and efficient application process.
Announcing the initiative at the Hajj Village on Tuesday, March 4, Minister for Foreign Affairs Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa described it as a landmark intervention aimed at easing the burden on prospective pilgrims.
“For the first time in our nation’s history, the Government of Ghana, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has taken deliberate steps to streamline and expedite passport processing specifically for Hajj pilgrims. This initiative, which has the full support of His Excellency, the President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, is testament to the government’s commitment to serving the needs of all Ghanaians, regardless of their background, and ensuring that every citizen has access to essential government services in a timely and efficient manner,” he stated.
President Mahama has also reaffirmed his commitment to facilitating the pilgrimage, confirming that arrangements are in place to transport 5,000 Ghanaian Muslims to Mecca this year.
Ablakwa stressed the significance of Hajj, describing it as a deeply spiritual obligation for Muslims.
“Ladies and gentlemen, as we all know, Hajj is a deeply spiritual and transformative journey. The Holy Quran admonishes every Muslim who is financially and physically capable to undertake it at least once in their lifetime. It is a journey of faith, devotion, and unity, bringing together millions of Muslims from all over the world in an act of obedience to Almighty Allah,” he added.
The new passport processing system is expected to eliminate delays and ensure that all qualified applicants receive their travel documents on time.
The initiative has been widely welcomed by members of the Muslim community, who see it as a positive step towards improving public service delivery and making the pilgrimage process more accessible.
Ablakwa assured that the government remains committed to similar reforms in other sectors to enhance efficiency and accessibility in service delivery.
This year’s Hajj pilgrimage is expected to take place between June 4 and June 9, 2025, depending on the sighting of the moon.
