A former Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Mustapha Batalima Abubakar has warned that the current Hajj Board risks running down Hajj operations in Ghana by implementing what he describes as exorbitant charges.

The charges, which have seen an increase of more than five hundred per cent, have left thousands of Ghanaian pilgrims with no option but to embark on the pilgrimage through alternative routes instead of going through the Hajj Board.

Speaking on Joy FM Midday News he noted that “you will realise that over the last few years, we have had people trying to use the backdoor to embark on the hajj because for them the cost of hajj now is very expensive”.

He noted that during former President John Mahama's time, Hajj fares were ₵11,900.00, but now the cost has risen to ₵75,000.00.

For many years, there have been several complaints about Ghana's organisation of the annual pilgrimage for Muslims.

Two Ghanaian pilgrims died at this year's Hajj in Saudi Arabia.

The deceased persons, reportedly from Damongo in the Savannah region, passed away on separate days; one on Sunday, June 9, and the other on Wednesday, June 12.

More than 4,000 Ghanaian pilgrims are in Saudi Arabia for the annual Hajj ritual.

The Chairman of the Hajj Board who confirmed the deaths noted that the deceased have been laid to rest in line with Islamic customs.

Meanwhile, he announced a Ghanaian female pilgrim also gave birth during the Hajj in the Holy City of Mecca on Wednesday.

"So far, so good, except for the unfortunate loss of two pilgrims. One of our pilgrim women has also given birth to a healthy baby.