Information available to the Daily Statesman, as well as documents sighted by the paper, show that Ghanaians in the coming days are going to be shocked to the marrow by the magnitude of harm done to the country by the immediate past Mahama-led National Democratic Congress government, as a result of gross ineptitude and corruption.
What appears to be clear from information the paper is privy to is that the Mahama government conducted the affairs of the country without any thought about the consequence of certain questionable decisions and activities.
For instance, the new Nana Akufo-Addo administration has had to immediately find ways to pay over 450 Muslims who were denied the opportunity to be part of the 2016 pilgrimage to Mecca even though they had fully met all their financial obligations to the government.
These people, with their receipts have started chasing the new government for a refund of the various sums of monies they had to pay for the journey they never embarked upon.
The most bizarre aspect of the organization of the 2016 pilgrimage to Mecca was how the Hajj Board managed to accumulate a whopping debt of GHC23 million, covering expenditures most of which were not supported by appropriate documentation.
The debt include amounts owned to Nas Air of Saudi Arabia for the lifting of the pilgrims to and from Saudi Arabia.
The 2016 Hajj was characterized by discrimination and favoritism. Those who got stranded at the Hajj Village in Accra, and eventually were denied the opportunity to travel, even though they had met their financial obligations, accused the Hajj Board of preferential treatment in the selection of people to enplane on the last flight to Mecca.
They alleged that the Board favoured NDC functionaries whose expenses had been taken care of by the state over others who paid on their own for the trip to Mecca.
As it stands now, Ghanaians will be demanding to know from the previous government why it failed to refund the monies it collected from the over 450 Muslims who were denied the opportunity to embark on the pilgrimage.
They will also want explanation for the circumstances under which the debt of GHC23 million was accumulated without proper documentation.
Source: Daily Statesman
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So we should allow those ***barred word*** to enjoy the stolen money without investigation? Prepare your self for Nsawam if you are involved and stop throwing dust into our eyes.
Can any government in this world take 12 days (7the January to 19th January)to create jobs? why is NDC people are in a hurry to get jobs from Nana Addo when their party is in government for 8 good years. I can't think far. courtesy Fmr President Mahama.
Very sad.......sad indeed. To the new government, go after every member of the so-called hajj board and make them account for their stewardship over the years. Pilgrims have suffered for much too long under the watch of the board who's members have become billionaires, stealing from the toils and sweat of our kith and kin. In 2014, i had to personally lock down one of them in his own abode for a refund of over $8000 due unfortunate pilgrims he was holding onto and refusing to pay. How can muslims behave like that? Meanwhile, they are the first to swear by Allah in conversations and occupy the front rows in mosques at each prayer session. Its about time these kleptomaniacs are made to account to the good people of Ghana, refund monies they have chopped and do jail time. Most of them have put up hotels, guest houses, bought posh cars and married extra wives from hard-earned money meant for passage to Hajj by our brothers and sisters. Why? If something is not done about this regular occurrence,people might take the law into their own hands since those entrusted with such trust do not live up to expectation and usually go scot-free. And as for the so-called DEBT, IT is a WHITE LIE.......they should refund it pronto. Sometimes, i really feel ashamed as a muslim considering the long hands most of our leaders have where money is involved.
There some financial misappropriation,the government should get auditors to go through their books,I think upon all the amount the pilgrims paid,for government to owe this amount means something is not right.
The new government should take its time, investigate and clearly document what all those transactions were about, and bring the culpable officials to book. No rush!!
Those who led the HAJ pilgrimage are still around, they must be called to account for their stewardship.
Wonder why politicians should put their hands in this holy business. Hmmm.
Masa those are your interest, where are the job you promise that is what we are interested in give us the job and stop shifting attention.