President John Dramani Mahama has announced two major commitments to Ghana's Muslim community: a significant expected reduction in Hajj fares next year and the introduction of a bill to make Eid ul Fitr a statutory public holiday.
Speaking during Eid ul Adha celebrations in Accra on Friday June 6, Mahama acknowledged the financial strain this year's Hajj pilgrimage placed on many Ghanaian families, despite efforts to reduce the cost.
He expressed optimism that pilgrims in 2026 will benefit from lower fares if current economic trends continue. "This year, despite efforts, the cost remained high even though we cut it," Mahama said. "We are working closely with the relevant agencies and our Saudi counterparts… If Allah accepts our supplications and the cedi continues to show the recent strength that it has shown, I am optimistic that next year we will see a very significant drop in the Hajj fare." He noted that had the pilgrimage taken place under current exchange conditions, the fare would have been approximately GHS45,000-substantially lower than what was charged earlier this year.
In addition to addressing Hajj costs, Mahama responded to long-standing appeals from the Muslim community regarding Eid ul Fitr, the festival marking the end of Ramadan.
