Managing the Hajj in Contemporary Ghana

The author analyzes Hajj management in contemporary Ghana, from the early 2000s to 2019. The process has been highly politicized since the 1990s, when the Ghanaian state established a national Hajj Board to oversee pilgrims’ air travel to Saudi Arabia. This development led to fierce public debates, including charges of mismanagement and corruption, culminating in the chaotic 2007, 2008, and 2009 Hajj seasons, during which two national bodies responsible for the pilgrimage challenged each other in court. The chapter explores the public discourse in Ghana through online textual sources posted by newspapers, radio stations, media portals, and social media users.