Ghana has recorded a second fatality among its pilgrims participating in the 2026 Hajj in Saudi Arabia, according to officials.
The deceased, identified as Alhaji Sulemana Iddrisu, a 60-year-old pilgrim, reportedly passed away on Tuesday, May 26, while at the plains of Mount Arafat—a key site for one of the most important rituals of the Hajj.
Confirmation of his death was provided by the Pilgrims Affairs Office of Ghana through its Director of Communications, Mohammed Amin Lamptey. Authorities indicated that the necessary arrangements were made in coordination with Saudi officials to inform the deceased’s family before his burial, which was conducted in accordance with Islamic customs.
This development follows an earlier incident reported just days prior, in which another Ghanaian pilgrim lost his life during the pilgrimage. The first victim, a 53-year-old man, reportedly collapsed while performing the Tawaf ritual—circumambulating the Kaaba—at the Grand Mosque in Mecca.
Officials from the Pilgrims Affairs Office noted that both incidents occurred during significant acts of worship. Within Islamic belief, passing away while engaged in such sacred rites is often regarded as a spiritually honorable end.
The back-to-back losses have cast a somber tone over Ghana’s participation in this year’s pilgrimage, even as thousands of its citizens continue to take part in the annual religious journey.
