President John Dramani Ma­hama has directed the task force organising this year’s Hajj to chan­nel any extra money that would be realised from the pilgrimage into charity.

At a sod-cutting ceremony for the construc­tion of a permanent Hajj Village in Accra on Friday, President Mahama said the Hajj, one of the five pillars of Islam, was a spiritual jour­ney of purification and not a profit-making enterprise.

“I have instructed the task force that Hajj is not a business. Hajj is not meant for profit. The Hajj Task Force must not structure things in order to make profit. We don’t want any profit from Hajj.

“So, I have instructed that after the perfor­mance of Hajj, if there’s even one cedi left, that money should be donated to the poor or used for a project in the Muslim communities,” President Mahama said.

The Hajj Village, scheduled to be completed in 24 months, is a multi-purpose facility to host pilgrims before they embark upon the journey to Saudi Arabia.

The facility would come with fully air-con­ditioned pilgrims hall, where pilgrims would undergo pre-departure activities, a modern ablution area, a mosque, a clinic and accommo­dation.

“This will be like a terminal building. A small­er version of Terminal 3, if you like, where departing pilgrims would be checked in from where they can directly board their flights,” President Mahama said.

Since being charged with the responsibility to oversee the activities of Hajj as Vice President in 2009, President Mahama said he had been committed to seeing the Muslim Ummah em­bark on the sacred journey with dignity and in a conducive environment.

“This project has been on the drawing board for a long time and I thank Allah for allowing me to see this beautiful dream fulfilled,” he stated.

The President, meanwhile, disclosed that he had instructed his legal counsel, Marietta Agyeiwaa Brew, to start processes to draft an amendment to the Public Holidays Act for approval by Parliament for an additional holiday to the Islamic holidays.

“Therefore beginning this year, there will be two holidays at the end of the holy month of Ramadan,” the President assured the Muslim Ummah.

 The Vice President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has charged the newly-consti­tuted Council of State to trans­form itself from the perceived “passive advisory body” into an “active institution” that demands account­ability.

Vice President Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said the Council remained pivotal to national devel­opment and must contribute to the shaping of government policies rather than being a rubber stamp of predetermined decisions.

“You must endeavour to contribute to the shaping of government policies at their in­ceptions and ensure that major policy choices are meticulously guided by the principles of accountability, equity and long-term mutual interests.

“Your tenure must redefine the Council’s role and transform it from the perceived passive advisory body into an active institution that anticipates challenges, offers bold recom­mendations and demands accountability,” she said.

The Vice President made this demand at the orientation for members of the 9th Council of the Fourth Republic at Peduase in the Eastern Region yesterday.

According to her, Ghana was at a pivotal moment of its democratic experiment and citizens are unequivocal in their demand for a paradigm shift from how things have been done over the years.

“They demand a governance structure that elevates national development above partisan proclivities (and only) institutional resilience that transforms above the transients of po­litical power” could deliver that structure, the Vice President said.

This demand, she said, was evident in the mandate given the John Mahama government to reset the country; a challenge she said the administration has accepted.

To her, the reset agenda was not a mere rhetoric but a pressing demand to overhaul the systems that have hindered the country’s advancement and create a governance model that is effective, forward-looking and suited to the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.

“The Council of State is pivotal to this overarching mission of national renewal and transformation” and must “dispel the popu­lar accusation of merely existing to validate already determined decisions”, she said.

The Chairman of the Council, Edward Doe Adjaho, said with the vast and varied experi­ences of members, they were ready to help shape the country’s direction through steady leadership and clear vision with a commitment to preserve the national interest and integrity and speaking truth to power.

Mr Adjaho, a former Speaker of Parliament urged that the Council leveraged its prestige and visibility to guide the President and other institutions of state and reassure young people that, there is a future for them.

“Let us try to offer fresh ideas from our accomplishments, the depth of our traditional leadership wisdom, private and public experi­ences to give deep meaning to our tasks and advance the needs of Ghanaians and not the political class.

“Let us endeavor to put people first. Up­holding the law and ensuring genuine care for people must be paramount in our deliberations when we proffer advice to the President of the republic. We must speak truth to those that we advise, engage with leadership and the people, connect with policy decisions to tackle the challenges facing our democracy,” he stressed.

The above, he said, was the surest way their deliberations could benefit both government and the Ghanaian public.

“Our performance, evaluations and recom­mendations, will speak to the relevance of the ninth Council,” he stated.

 FROM JULIUS YAO PETETSI,

PEDUASE

The President of the Football Association (GFA), Kurt Edwin Simeon-Okraku, paid a visit to the wife and family of late Asante Kotoko fan, Yaw Frimpong, popularly known as ‘Nana Pooley’ at his residence in Kumasi on Thursday February 20, 2025.

In a touching gesture, President Okraku visited the family to share in their grief and express the collective sympathy of the football community.

He extended his heartfelt condolences and offered words of comfort and encouragement to the grieving family over the untimely demise of the passionate fan.

The visit to the wife and family follows an earlier trip to Asante Kotoko Headquarters in Kumasi, where he held closed-door meeting with the Interim Management Committee and the leadership of the club’s supporters.

The President’s gesture of support during this difficult time reflects the solidarity and compassion shared by the entire football fraternity.

His visit brought some comfort to the family as they mourn the loss of a beloved husband, father, and passionate supporter.

The President was joined and supported by Ashanti Regional Football Association Executives led by Chairman Osei Tutu Agyemang, GFA Executive Council member, Frederick Acheampong, Kotoko IMC top official who also doubles as GFA Executive Council member, James Kwasi Appiah and the supporters’ leadership of Kumasi Asante Kotoko.