Hajj fares will drop next year if cedi remains strong – Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has assured Ghana’s Muslim community of a significant reduction in Hajj fares next year, citing the strengthening cedi and ongoing negotiations with relevant agencies and Saudi authorities

Speaking during Eid ul Adha celebrations in Accra on Friday June 6, Mahama acknowledged the heavy financial burden this year’s pilgrimage has placed on families, despite efforts to lower costs.

However, he expressed optimism that 2026 would bring relief to pilgrims.

“This year, despite efforts, the cost remained high even though we cut it,” he said. “But I want to assure you, 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 if pilgrims were traveling at current exchange rates, the fare would have been around GHS45,000—a marked decrease from current prices.

In addition to the Hajj announcement, Mahama revealed a major legislative move that responds to a longstanding request from the Muslim community. He confirmed that his team has prepared a bill to make Eid ul Fitr a statutory public holiday, which will soon be submitted to Parliament.

“It means that it will be a law and no longer be declared by executive instrument,” he explained.