The former board of the Hajj under the Akufo-Addo administration has refuted claims that they left behind a $5 million debt, arguing instead that they worked tirelessly to reduce the financial burden of the Hajj pilgrimage.
Speaking on ABC News Midday, the board’s spokesperson, Alhaji Abdul Rahman Gomda, stated that when they assumed office, they inherited over $7 million in debt and successfully reduced it to just over $4 million before leaving office.
He emphasized that the figure being circulated is a misrepresentation of the actual figures, calling for the old administration to be acknowledged for their efforts rather than criticized.
His remarks come in response to a press briefing by Alhaji Collins Dauda, Chairman of the interim Hajj Taskforce, who claimed that the previous New Patriotic Party (NPP) government left behind more than $5 million in debt from past Hajj trips.
The revelation has sparked heated debate, with some accusing the former administration of financial mismanagement.
However, Alhaji Gomda insists that the numbers being shared by the new taskforce are misleading and do not reflect the progress made by the former board.
The controversy over the Hajj Board’s financial records now raises deeper questions about accountability and transparency in the management of funds meant for the annual pilgrimage.
With the figures in dispute, many are calling for an independent audit to verify the true state of affairs.
The spokesperson of the former board for the Hajj pilgrimage has intimated that the body members of the previous administration will submit themselves to any scrutiny and investigations the interim board wants to undertake regarding the debt situation.
He says they did no wrong and were transparent in their expenditure hence, no amount of investigation will reveal any wrongdoing.
