By: Hamza Lansah Lolly / Baba Mohammed Issahaq
Deputy Minority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for Tolon, Hon. Habib Iddrisu, delivered a fiery submission in Parliament on Tuesday, demanding clear answers from the Minister for Local Government, Decentralisation, and Religious Affairs regarding the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Ghanaian pilgrims during the 2025 Hajj, including a bizarre case where a pilgrim previously declared dead was later found alive.
“Mr. Speaker, this is very important,” Hon. Habib said. “Among the many pilgrims who were pronounced dead, one of them, all of a sudden, resurrected in Madina here in Accra.”
He revealed that the Ghana Hajj Board, which operates under the Ministry, had declared the individual dead, issued a death certificate to the family, and the family had even held a funeral. Shockingly, the person returned home alive two days later.
Hon. Habib criticised the Minister for attempting to deflect responsibility, insisting that the Hajj Board is not an independent constitutional body and therefore falls squarely under the Minister’s authority.
“You are the Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs. Hajj is a religious matter. You are the right person to answer this question,” he said. “I don’t know whether you are dodging the question or just don’t want to answer it.”
He cited Standing Order 88(6) of Parliament, which obligates ministers to respond to questions unless the matter involves an independent constitutional body a condition he firmly argued does not apply to the Hajj Board.
The confrontation followed a formal question from Hon. Ahmed Shaibu, who had asked the Minister to provide a detailed report on the deaths of seven Ghanaian pilgrims during the 2025 Hajj, including specific causes and the safety measures being put in place.
The Minister’s response, or lack thereof, left many MPs unsatisfied, with Hon. Habib calling it a failure of accountability on a matter involving human lives and public trust.
