The first batch of 456 Ghanaian Muslim pilgrims arrived in the country last Monday from Mecca after attending this year�s Hajj.
The pilgrims, who were supposed to arrive at 3p.m, touched down at the Kotoka International Airport at exactly 6 p.m. on a chartered Saudi Airline, NAS Air, the official airline for Hajj 2014.
They were led by the National Chief Imam, Shiekh Osumanu Nuhu Sharubutu, and some members of the Council of Zongo Chiefs.
Relatives and friends, who could not hide their joy, mobbed the pilgrims and congratulated them on their effort and a successful Hajj.
Hajj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca and a mandatory religious duty for Muslims which must be carried out at least once in a lifetime by all adult Muslims who are physically and financially capable of undertaking the journey.
Hajj committee lauded
Addressing journalists at the airport, Shiekh Sharubutu thanked Allah for guarding the pilgrims throughout the period.
He said fervent prayers were said for the country and for Allah to avert the possible spread of the deadly Ebola virus from Ghana, as well as cholera.
He congratulated the National Hajj Committee on a successful organisation of the Hajj and expressed the hope that future pilgrimages would be even better.
Screening for Ebola
All the 456 pilgrims were screened for Ebola at the airport.
The Head of Port Health at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA), Mr Rapheal John Marfo, said the procedure was required in order to isolate and contain any situation if the need arose.
He said all the pilgrims had the normal body temperature of 38 degree Celsius, except one person whose was slightly higher, � but even that one was within the required range�.
Births and deaths
In an interview, the Chief of Staff of the National Hajj Committee, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Tanko, said five out of the 5,428 Ghanaian pilgrims who travelled to Mecca this year died in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia after going through the entire Hajj rituals.
The deceased were four females and a male who died of natural causes and were duly buried in Saudi Arabia according to the Islamic custom.
Two female pilgrims were delivered of baby girls.
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