The Overload of Dagbon, His Royal Majesty, Ya-Na Abukari II has heaped praises on government and the Ghana Hajj Board for ensuring a smooth organization of the trip for Ghanaian pilgrims to and from Saudi Arabia for the 2022 pilgrimage.

He said he monitored with keen interest activities and the welfare of pilgrims who travelled from Ghana to Saudi Arabia to perform this year’s Hajj.

The Overload indicated that the Dagbon State with a predominantly Muslim population contributes about 65% of the entire pilgrims from Ghana, hence his interest in the activities of Hajj in Ghana.

The Ya-Na made the remarks when President Akufo-Addo paid a courtesy call on him on Monday as part of the President’s working visit to the Northern Region.

The overload said “Your Excellency, this year, Hajj 2022 was efficiently organized here in Tamale. Pilgrims travelled to Mecca and Medina and observed their religious obligations in line with their faith without any hitch. While pilgrims were in Saudi Arabia, I monitored with keen interest the activities and the welfare of pilgrims over there. The feedback was great, and I am happy that the pilgrims, mostly from the Dagbon State, were treated with dignity.”

He further said, “the organizers of the Hajj process here in Tamale did a good job, and I commend your government for such a wonderful feat”.

Some Muslims who embarked on the pilgrimage lauded the Hajj Board for a largely successful religious exercise when the last batch arrived in Accra from Saudi Arabia weeks ago.

They said the Hajj Board adopted pragmatic initiatives to ensure the comfort of Ghanaian pilgrims.

The board said enough preparations were made ahead of the journey to Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi authorities gave Ghana a quota of 3,069 pilgrims to perform this year’s Hajj.