Also on the flight is the National Chief Imam Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, who was part of this year’s Ghanaian contingent to the Hajj.

 

Dr. Bawumia will arrive by a Turkish Airline flight at the Kotoka International Airport (KIA) in the evening to an expected rousing welcome.

 

Plans are afoot by his teeming supporters from various constituencies to welcome him and his wife Samira Bawumia, who also performed the Hajj.

 

This is Dr. Bawumia’s first Hajj and so his residence is expected to host many visitors as it is done for especially first time returning pilgrims.

 

Being a frontline politician with his kind of charisma, his guests would certainly consist of both Muslims and non-Muslims, who would be congratulating him for a successful Hajj and being spared the tragedy, which claimed many lives in this year’s religious exercise.

 

During the pilgrimage, the running mate to Nana Akufo Addo, the flagbearer of the NPP, took time off to give pep talks to downcast pilgrims from Ghana following the death of over a thousand persons in the tragedy that struck during the stoning of the devil ritual.

 

Officials have confirmed that 13 Ghanaians died during the pilgrimage in Mecca.

Out of the dead, eight died of natural causes while five lost their lives in the fatal stampede.

Ghana’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Said Sinare said “21 Ghanaians are still unaccounted for and his outfit is working around the clock to track their whereabouts.

 

There is no information on the missing 21 Ghanaian pilgrims even as the first batch of pilgrims is expected to begin the journey to Accra on 7th October 2015 via a Saudi airline.