By Kebba AF Touray
Hamat N.K. Bah, Gambia’s Minister of Religious Affairs, provided an extensive briefing to the Regional Government Committee of the National Assembly on Wednesday, detailing the government’s preparations for the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage.
The meeting, attended by officials from the Ministry of Local Government and the Hajj Commission, aimed to update lawmakers on the progress of logistical and regulatory efforts ahead of the pilgrimage season.
“The engagement was meant for the Hajj Commission to provide us with an update on the new measures being put in place for this year’s Hajj,” said Sulayman Jammeh, the committee’s chairperson.
Minister Bah told lawmakers that upon assuming office, he identified the need for significant reforms in the management of the pilgrimage, which he noted, initially caused some apprehension. “The whole objective of the government is to protect our citizenry,” he said.
He recalled that before 2017, the organization of Hajj was controlled by the Gambia International Airlines (GIA). The government then opted for a liberalized system, allowing multiple operators to facilitate the pilgrimage. However, he said the transition lacked a structured policy to regulate operations effectively.
“In the absence of clear guidelines, we consulted stakeholders to draft a policy, which we aim to finalize by June,” Bah said. “Once completed, we will review the existing Hajj Act and propose necessary amendments to strengthen oversight.”
The minister cited last year’s Hajj report, which highlighted multiple logistical challenges, including the dispersal of 2,000 Gambian pilgrims across 16 different accommodations, making it difficult for medical personnel to provide adequate care.
“Reading that report made me realize that urgent action was needed,” Bah said. “Even in the absence of formal regulations, we have the executive authority to enforce necessary controls.”
He described efforts to ensure Gambian pilgrims are housed in a single location, recalling negotiations with accommodation providers.
“We signed a contract with a group, but I made it clear that if the pilgrims were not satisfied, the contract would be void,” Minister Bah added.
However, the initial accommodations presented to government representatives were substandard, prompting Bah to intervene.
“I told them to secure a hotel of appropriate standards or the deal was off,” he said.
Eventually, officials secured a first-class hotel with 3,200 rooms, located within walking distance of the Kaaba in Mecca.
To finalize the arrangement, Bah personally ensured that the government paid $2 million for the accommodations through the Central Bank.
“I instructed them to provide me with the receipt and confirmation of the booking,” he added.
In a further bid to enhance services for Gambian pilgrims, Bah met with his Saudi counterpart to request training for local officials in hotel management and pilgrimage logistics. The Saudi authorities, he said, agreed to the request, paving the way for improved standards in future Hajj operations.
Bah expressed confidence that with the implementation of the new policy, regulatory framework, and amendments to the Hajj Act, “there will be a marked difference in how we manage the pilgrimage.”
