President Yahya Jammeh, has received a copy of a message sent to the then King Makawhis of Egypt, by the holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The message was purportedly sent to the Egyptian monarch for him to covert to Islam and submit himself to the Almighty Allah; a fundamental requirement for conversion to Islam. The copy of the artefact, which was contained in a blue jewellery-shape box, was presented to the Gambian leader, by Alhaji Kebba Landing Sanyang, Amir of the National Hajj Commission, during a courtesy call at the Cabinet Room of the State House in Banjul, yesterday, where matters revolving around the 2007/08 hajj were thoroughly discussed.

Addressing the meeting, ahead of the 2007/08 hajj, which will start in November, President Jammeh advised the National Hajj Commission against spontaneity which often results to delays in flights and logistic constraints.

However, the President described last year’s hajj as very successful, as compared to the previous years. He then expressed deep concern with the country’s hajj preparations, saying that this has caused him nightmares for the past 12 years, due to “bad planning”. He said this practice also projects a bad image of the government, though stemming from the failure of a few, who fail to execute their duties on time. He condemned the culture of ‘Maslaha’ (condoning unacceptable practices) in the dispensation of national duties, maintaining that it derails the hajj objectives. He rejected Maslaha as forbidden in Islam and then implored the Commission not to harbour it.

President Jammeh advised the Commission to devise a long-term plan on administering hajj in the country, noting that this would go a long way towards addressing the syndrome of last minute planning.

“Hajj is an operation that can fail even at the last minute,” he warned.

He said the annual increase in the number of pilgrims correspondingly warrants long- term strategic planning to resolve problems.

He reminded members of the Commission of the rigidity of government’s approved budget. He said the national budget is for specific areas of national development, noting that instances of late preparations often compel government to scout for funds from different sectors which “is not practically possible”.

However, he urged the Commission to liaise with the relevant state department to draw a budget, which will cover their operational expenses. Meanwhile, he urged the Commission to channel its current predicaments to the relevant state department, assuring them that his office will intervene when “there seems to be no headway”.

He told the Commission to always consider the requirements to ensure successful administration, both in the country and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. He advised them to be wary of selecting guides who may use the hajj as a springboard to embark on a shopping spree in the holy land, neglecting their responsibilities to pilgrims. He then acknowledged the need for more female guides to be recruited, noting that there are places where men can not be with female pilgrims.

He used the opportunity to remind the pilgrims about the danger of spending all their pocket monies on shopping before the end of the hajj; a phenomenon that leaves many financially handicapped during the period of the hajj.

“The hajj commission must have a continuous programme to enable the people to know what it will take to go on a hajj,” he advised.

The Gambian leader stressed that government agencies must not be looking for profit in dealing with hajj, saying that their focus should be directed at covering their expenses.

President Jammeh said he was forced to reject the initial price tag for this year’s hajj, in the face of the appreciation of the Dalasi against major international currencies, such as the Dollar and the Pound Sterling. This culminated in the reduction of the price from D96,000 to D88,000 and finally D84,250.

He said the issuance of licences to operating agencies is based on performance, stressing that the exercise is devoid of political inclination. “It has nothing to do with politics. What we look for in the agencies is performance based on the interest of the pilgrims,” he confirmed.

President Jammeh recounted the need for good planning to enable the pilgrims to prepare well. To this end, he told the hajj operators to always project a tentative date for the hajj to allow prospective pilgrims to raise the required funds.

Ismaila Sambou, Secretary of State for Local Government, Lands and Religious Affairs, affirmed the commitment of President Jammeh to ensuring a successful hajj and then called on the members of the National Hajj Commission to live up to expectations.

Yankuba Touray, Secretary of State for Fisheries and Water Resources, elaborated on the importance President Jammeh attaches to religion, saying that religion is crucial to the maintenance of peace in the country. Secretary of State Touray said this has been manifested in the strengthening of the Supreme Islamic Council and the creation of the National Hajj Commission. He also urged members of the Commission to learn from the lessons of the past operations in order to deal with challenges.

Mass Axi Gye, Secretary of State for Youth and Sports, observed the need for the cross-fertilisation of ideas through consultation. Secretary of State Gaye then paid tribute to President Jammeh for his role in facilitating hajj in the country.

Alhaji Kebba Landing Sanyang, Chairman of the National Hajj Commission, commended government on the selection of three agencies as operators. He then used the opportunity to inform the President about the challenges confronting them, including arrears on office rent and mobility. Alhaji Landing Sanyang then felicitated President Jammeh on the Ramadan and paid tribute to him for his personal efforts to restore the health of many; efforts that have won the Gambian leader many plaudits locally and internationally.

He assured the President of his commission’s resolve to do everything possible to ensure that the 2007/08 hajj is a success. He also thanked President Jammeh for his support.

Aja Maimuna Savage, a renowned Islamic scholar, offered suggestions for the recruitment of more female guides, considering the fact that annually 2/3 of the Gambian pilgrims are females.

Ousman Jammeh, acting Secretary-General and Secretary of State for Petroleum, Energy and Natural Resources, Neneh Macdouall-Gaye, Secretary of State for Communications and Information Technology, Fatou Lamin Faye, Secretary of State for Basic Education, and Angela Colley, Secretary of State for Tourism and Culture, also attended the meeting.

Ebrima JT Kujabi, Director of Press and Public Relations at State House, chaired the ceremony, which was also attended by representatives of the licensed agencies.