Tamale, May 1, 2026 — Hundreds of Ghanaian pilgrims boarded the first Hajj flight of 2026 from Tamale International Airport on Friday, marking the start of this year’s airlift to Saudi Arabia.

Hajj Board officials oversaw the departure of 430 pilgrims, the first batch of 6,720 expected to travel from Ghana, conducting health screenings, passport checks and baggage verification to ensure smooth operations.

Northern Regional Minister Ali Adolf John addressed the gathering, expressing delight at the successful launch and urging pilgrims to stay calm, support each other and report any concerns to Hajj Board officials during their journey.

Pilgrims should remain disciplined, cooperative and prayerful throughout the pilgrimage, said Hajj Board member Hon. Tanko.

Hon. Ali Adolf also thanked President John Dramani Mahama for facilitating arrangements for this year’s pilgrimage.

The minister’s comments came as pilgrims gathered amid tight security and emotional farewells from family members, with flights scheduled to continue throughout May ahead of the main Hajj rituals expected in June.

By Mariam Alhassan