Every day, millions of Muslims face towards the East as they perform the five daily prayers.

They are facing towards a land to which their hearts and minds frequently travel. This is the Holy City of Mecca. For a Muslim, a journey to the Holy City is unlike any other. It is a journey of faith; a fulfillment of one of the Five Pillars of Islam.

All faithful Muslims aspire to go on this journey. The opportunity to go on Hajj – as the journey of faith is called – is a dream come true. Many are unable to make it because of financial constraints and other reasons.

For many Gambian Muslims, Good Fortune has smiled on them in the person of President Yahya Jammeh. Over the years, he has personally sponsored the pilgrimage of many Gambians who would otherwise not have been able to make the journey.

On an occasion when some pilgrims were stranded whilst on the journey, the president personally intervened to ensure that they were airlifted and that completed their journey.

To the pilgrims, we say congratulations and best wishes for a successful Hajj. As you go on this journey, our hearts and minds are with you. We pray that you all go in peace and come back safely.

It should also be borne in mind that you are ambassadors of this country. Thus, we implore you to be good ambassadors and to represent this illustrious nation well.
Please pray for our country and for our beloved president.