7 Ghanaians Die in Mecca during Hajj

Seven Ghanaian pilgrims have died while performing the 2025 Hajj rituals in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Ghana Hajj Board has confirmed.

The deceased include five women and two men. Their names have not yet been made public, but their families in Ghana have already been informed.

Chairman of the Hajj Board, Alhaji Collins Dauda, spoke about the sad incident in an interview with TV3 on Saturday, June 7, 2025. He shared heartfelt condolences with the affected families.

“Unfortunately, for the 2025 pilgrimage, we have lost seven of our compatriots. Deaths are painful but death will come when it has to come and therefore, regrettably as the case is, we take the opportunity to express our deepest condolences to the families back in Ghana who have been affected in this case,” Alhaji Dauda said.

He added that the Hajj Board would visit the bereaved families to offer support and sympathy at an appropriate time.

All seven pilgrims were buried in Saudi Arabia, in line with Islamic tradition, which requires that pilgrims who die during Hajj be buried there.

This year, over 6,000 Ghanaians joined more than two million Muslims from across the world to perform the annual Hajj pilgrimage. The rituals are known to be physically demanding, and pilgrims often face intense heat. Reports from Mecca indicated that temperatures soared above 48°C, creating serious health risks—especially for older pilgrims and those with health conditions.

Despite these difficult conditions, the 2025 death toll marks a significant improvement. In 2024, 17 Ghanaian pilgrims died during Hajj, but this year’s number dropped to seven, a nearly 59% reduction.

Alhaji Dauda credited this positive change to stronger safety measures introduced in partnership with Saudi authorities. These include thorough medical checks before departure, the presence of Ghanaian medical teams in Saudi Arabia, and improved emergency healthcare services.

Other protective steps, such as setting up water stations and sharing health advice to prevent heatstroke, were also put in place.

The Ghana Hajj Board says it remains committed to keeping all pilgrims safe and promises to keep reviewing its procedures to match global standards for managing large gatherings in tough environments.

While the deaths are deeply sorrowful, the reduced numbers bring some comfort and show that efforts to protect pilgrims are working.