2027 Hajj: Ghana Denies Extortion Claims Over N75,000 Medical Screening Fee
By Khadija Muhammad Umar
Ghana’s Pilgrims Affairs Office has denied allegations of extortion over a medical screening fee of GH¢650, equivalent to about N75,000, for intending pilgrims participating in the 2027 Hajj.
The office said the mandatory medical screening was a requirement of the Saudi Arabian government and not an initiative introduced by Ghana’s Hajj authorities to generate revenue.
In a press release dated October 28, 2026, the Pilgrims Affairs Office of Ghana (PAOG) described social media publications accusing the Hajj Board of imposing the screening without Saudi approval as false and misleading.
The office said prospective pilgrims must obtain medical clearance before they can secure Hajj visas, explaining that the screening would help protect their health during the annual pilgrimage.
The statement added that other countries, including Nigeria, Senegal, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, the United Kingdom and the United States, also conduct similar medical screening exercises.
Addressing concerns over the GH¢650 charge, the office said accredited hospitals and medical facilities providing the services collected the money, insisting that the Hajj Board did not receive any portion of the fee.
2027 Hajj: Ghana Denies Extortion Claims Over N75,000 Medical Screening Fee
“The Hajj Board does not take a pesewa from this amount,” the statement said, adding that the board only supervises the exercise to ensure compliance with the applicable standards.
The office urged prospective pilgrims to disregard the allegations and comply with the screening schedule, which commenced on October 3, 2026, in Tamale.
It reiterated its commitment to transparency, accountability and the welfare of Ghanaian pilgrims preparing for the 2027 Hajj.
However, the statement did not provide details of the medical services covered by the GH¢650 fee or documentary evidence establishing the precise scope of the Saudi screening requirement.
