As preparations intensify for the main 2026 Hajj pilgrimage, the Dawah Team of the Pilgrims Affairs Office of Ghana (PAOG) has held a strategic review meeting in Makkah aimed at assessing operational readiness and strengthening religious support services for Ghanaian pilgrims.
The high-level meeting brought together Islamic scholars and members of the Dawah team responsible for educating and guiding Ghanaian pilgrims in both Madinah and Makkah throughout the sacred pilgrimage.
The session was chaired by the Head of the PAOG Dawah Team, Sheikh Abdul Malik Maiga, who praised members of the team for their dedication, sacrifices, and unwavering commitment during the various stages of the Hajj operations.
Addressing the gathering, Sheikh Maiga acknowledged that the team encountered several operational challenges during the initial phases of the pilgrimage exercise, including the airlifting of pilgrims from Tamale and Accra, as well as logistical and coordination issues experienced in Madinah and Makkah.
Despite these difficulties, he commended the resilience of the team and noted that the challenges had not distracted members from carrying out their responsibilities effectively.
“We have gone through demanding moments since the beginning of the Hajj operations, but your commitment and sense of duty have remained strong,” Sheikh Maiga stated. “Our responsibility is not only administrative but also spiritual. Pilgrims depend on us for guidance and support throughout this sacred journey.”
He further urged the scholars and religious guides to intensify preparations ahead of the critical Hajj rituals at Mina and Arafat, where pilgrims will participate in some of the most important rites of the Islamic pilgrimage.
According to him, effective religious education and continuous guidance are essential to ensuring that pilgrims perform the rites correctly, peacefully, and in accordance with Islamic teachings.
The Dawah Team plays a significant role during Hajj by offering sermons, counselling, translations, and practical guidance on rituals, prayers, and movement schedules for Ghanaian pilgrims.
Members of the team, in response, assured the leadership of their readiness and determination to continue supporting pilgrims throughout the spiritual exercise.
They reaffirmed their commitment to working closely with the Pilgrims Affairs Office of Ghana under the leadership of Alhaji Abdul-Rauf Tanko Ibrahim to ensure a successful and incident-free Hajj season for all Ghanaian pilgrims in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The meeting forms part of broader efforts by Ghana’s Hajj authorities to improve coordination, welfare services, and religious guidance for pilgrims as the main Hajj rites draw closer.
Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, attracts millions of Muslims from across the world to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah every year.
