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March 11, 2016
Stranded Hajj pilgrims protest
Accra, Dec. 22, GNA - Hundreds of pilgrims attending this
year's Hajj as well as their relatives on Friday besieged
the main road of the Aviance Cargo Village near the Kotoka
International Airport in Accra in protest against the
delayed departure of pilgrims to Mecca.
On two separate occasions they blocked the road with sticks,
boulders and other objects.
The police cleared the obstacles almost immediately after
which the crowd blocked another part of the road.
The action resulted in traffic jam and the police presence
was reinforced.
None of the Hajj Board members was available to clarify the
situation.
Ghana News Agency (GNA) investigations revealed that most
Hajj members as well as their relatives grew impatient and
blamed the Hajj Board for their continued delayed flights.
They said after paying 20 million cedis per a person for the
trip they had ended up being given excuses that flight to
send them on the pilgrimage was not available.
The pilgrims, who were being housed at the premises of the
Aviance Cargo Village complained that the conditions they
found themselves in was horrible.
A man, who gave his name as Salia said he has been waiting
for almost a week, during which he took his bath only once.
All efforts to contact the members of the Hajj Board proved
futile, as their mobile phones would not ring.
Meanwhile the pilgrims have threatened to hold a protest
march to the offices of the Hajj Board if flight was not
made available for them on Saturday to embark on the journey
to Mecca.
GNA
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