Hajj 2027: Mandatory medical screening is Saudi requirement, PAOG insists
The Pilgrims Affairs Office of Ghana (PAOG) has clarified that mandatory medical screening for prospective Hajj 2027 pilgrims is a directive from the Saudi Arabian government, urging applicants to ignore what it described as misleading claims circulating on social media.
In a statement issued by its Communications Directorate on October 28, 2026, the PAOG explained that Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah introduced the screening requirement in 2026 as a condition for obtaining pilgrimage visas.
The Office rejected allegations that the Ghana Hajj Board was using the mandatory medical examinations to extort money from prospective pilgrims without authorisation from Saudi Arabia.
It stressed that the screening programme was not exclusive to Ghana but was being implemented across countries participating in the annual pilgrimage.
The PAOG mentioned Nigeria, Senegal, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, the United Kingdom and the United States among countries carrying out similar medical examinations in line with Saudi Arabian regulations.
According to the Office, Ghana’s participation in the exercise is aimed at meeting Saudi Arabia’s requirements and international standards while protecting the health and well-being of pilgrims.
Addressing concerns over the GH¢650 screening fee, the PAOG clarified that the charge was collected by accredited hospitals and medical facilities responsible for conducting the examinations, not the Ghana Hajj Board.
It explained that the Board only oversees the process to ensure the exercise is properly coordinated and complies with the standards set by Saudi authorities.
The clarification follows social media reports questioning the legitimacy of the mandatory medical screening and the fees associated with it.
The PAOG urged prospective Hajj 2027 pilgrims to disregard what it described as false information and adhere to the approved medical screening schedule.
The exercise, according to the statement, commenced in Tamale on October 3, 2026.
The Office reaffirmed the Ghana Hajj Board’s commitment to transparency, accountability and the welfare of Ghanaian pilgrims as preparations for the 2027 pilgrimage continue.
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