The 11-member board, chaired by Sheikh Ibrahim Cudjoe Quaye, will co-ordinate all issues pertaining to the Muslim spiritual exercise and ensure that the recurrent problems that characterised the annual pilgrimage are smoothed out.

At the induction ceremony at the Jubilee House in Accra, President Akufo-Addo urged the board to work to the expectation of the Ghanaian Muslim community and pledged governments support to enhance the operations of the board.He said he had every confidence in the board to make the pilgrimage affair for Muslims a seamless affair in the years to come.

“The nation expects a good job from you and I am confident that you are going to be able to do that for the Ghanaian people,” he said.President Akufo-Addo led the board’s members to swear the Oath of Allegiance to the country.The National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu, on his part, commended the President for his commitment towards a successful pilgrim exercise.

He asked PresidentAkufo-Addo not to forget his promises to the people of Ghana and pledged to support him to succeed.He also asked those who would be attending the Hajj pilgrimage to pray for the successful tenure of office of the President, as well as for the peace and prosperity of the nation, calling on the membership of the Hajj Board to also live by the Oath they had taken.

The members of the board are Abdul Malik Adams Gariba, Mr Farouk Hamza, Sheikh Amin Bonsu, Alhaji Inusa Amadu, Mr Kamal-Deen Abdulai, Ismaela Ibrahim, Mohammadu Osmanu Alidu, Mohammed Osumanu Yunusah, Mr Braimah Adams and Dr Mohammed Ibrahim Mohammed.

Dr Seidu Zakaria heads the medical unit of the board, while Alhaji Abdulai Rahman Alhassan Gomda and Dr Sani Abduai head the Communications and Information Technology Unit.