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A 65-year-old businessman and philanthropist, Alhaji Ayaana Yakubu, has announced plans to walk over 250 kilometers from Kumasi to Accra to witness the swearing-in of President-elect John Dramani Mahama on January 7, 2025.
The Tamale-based entrepreneur intends to travel to Kumasi by vehicle and then proceed on foot, starting his journey on January 5 and concluding it in time for the ceremony at Ghana’s Parliament House.
Speaking to journalists, Alhaji Yakubu described the trek as a gesture to honor the victory of John Dramani Mahama in the 2024 presidential election.
“This is my way of showing respect and gratitude to President Mahama for his leadership and for the trust Ghanaians have placed in him,” he said.
This is not the first time Alhaji Yakubu has undertaken such an initiative. In 1997, he walked to mark former President Jerry John Rawlings’ swearing-in for a second term. Two years later, he organized a 16-kilometer peace and health walk in Tamale to promote unity and health on Independence Day.
Alhaji Yakubu announced his upcoming trek on December 21 after completing a 19-kilometer health walk from the Yakubu Tali International Airport to the Jubilee Park in Tamale. The event celebrated Ghana’s peaceful 2024 elections and expressed gratitude for the National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s overwhelming victory.
Beyond his symbolic journey, Alhaji Yakubu voiced his expectations for the Mahama administration, particularly the reduction of Hajj costs for Ghanaian Muslims.
“This year, pilgrims using my agency paid about GH¢40,000, while others paid as much as GH¢75,000. Reducing the Hajj fare, as promised, will ease the burden on Muslims wishing to perform their pilgrimage,” he stated.
He also called on the incoming administration to decentralize visa issuance and biometric verification processes to regional levels to alleviate the travel challenges faced by northern pilgrims.
As January 7 approaches, all eyes will be on Alhaji Yakubu’s remarkable journey, a gesture that symbolizes hope, resilience, and unwavering support for the President-elect.
