President John Dramani Mahama has predicted that Hajj fares coul drop to GHC50,000 next year if the Ghanaian Cedi maintains its current appreciation trend against the US dollar.
He made this comment during his Thank You Tour in Kintampo in the Bono East Region on Thursday, May 29, 2025 where he pointed out the impact of the recent exchange rate gains on Hajj costs.
“At the time we started paying for the Hajj, the Cedi was at GHC15.5 to the dollar. So, the fare we came up with for the $4,000 cost to do the Hajj came to GHC 62,000”.
“Next year, if you do a calculation with where the Cedi is currently GHC 10.5 it means the fare for Hajj may go below GHC 50,000”he stated.
President Mahama also commended his administration’s efforts to make Hajj more affordable, noting a significant reduction in fares from GHC 75,000 to GHC 60,000.
He emphasized that the Cedi’s strengthening should bring relief to citizens across various sectors, amid broader discussions on its impact on living costs.