Speaking at the national Eid-ul-Adha prayers at Black Star Square in Accra on Friday, June 6, the President acknowledged the strain this year’s Hajj fare had placed on Muslim families, despite modest reductions made by the government. He attributed the high cost largely to foreign exchange challenges but said recent gains in the value of the cedi offer a path to affordability.

“This year, despite efforts, the cost remained high even though we cut it,” Mr Mahama stated. “But I want to assure you that 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.”

The President explained that if the current exchange rate had prevailed during the earlier bookings, pilgrims would have paid an estimated GH¢45,000 — considerably lower than the fare charged this year.

In addition to Hajj-related reforms, Mr Mahama also announced a major legislative move to respond to what he described as a longstanding appeal from the Muslim community. A bill, he disclosed, has been prepared to formalise Eid-ul-Fitr as a statutory public holiday, removing the need for its annual declaration by executive fiat.

“It means that it will be a law and no longer be declared by executive instrument,” he said, underscoring the importance of the festival in the spiritual lives of Muslims.

The President further announced that he had instructed the Minister for Education to take steps to revitalise the Islamic Education Unit. This, he noted, would include improved recruitment and training of Arabic language instructors to ensure quality teaching in Islamic schools across the country.

His comments were delivered before a large crowd of worshippers gathered for the Eid prayers, which mark the Festival of Sacrifice in the Islamic calendar.