65-year-old man to walk from Kumasi to Accra for Mahama’s inauguration

Alhaji Ayaana, a 65-year-old businessman and philanthropist based in Tamale, has announced plans to walk over 250 kilometres from Kumasi to Accra to attend John Dramani Mahama’s swearing-in ceremony as President of Ghana on January 7, 2025.

Alhaji Ayaana intends to travel to Kumasi by vehicle and begin his three-day walking journey on January 5, covering the long distance in time for the ceremony.

Speaking to journalists, he explained that this symbolic act is his way of honouring the president-elect for his victory in the 2024 presidential election.

This is not the first time Alhaji Ayaana has embarked on such a gesture. In 1997, he undertook a similar walk to celebrate the swearing-in of former President Jerry John Rawlings for his second term.

He also organised a 16-kilometre peace and health walk in Tamale on Independence Day in 1999 to promote national unity and health.

Alhaji Ayaana announced his latest initiative on December 21, after completing a 19-kilometre health walk from the Yakubu Tali International Airport to the Jubilee Park in Tamale.

The Tamale walk, which celebrated Ghana’s peaceful 2024 elections, also served as a gesture of gratitude to Ghanaians for voting overwhelmingly for the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Expressing his hopes for Mahama’s presidency, Alhaji Ayaana called on the president-elect to deliver on his campaign promises, particularly regarding the reduction of Hajj costs, a key concern for Muslims in Ghana.

“This year, pilgrims using my agency paid about GH¢40,000, while others paid as much as GH¢75,000 for the same Hajj. Reducing the Hajj fare, as promised, will ease the burden on Muslims wishing to perform their pilgrimage,” he said.

He also urged Mahama to decentralise visa issuance and biometric verification processes to the regional level, noting the difficulties faced by pilgrims from northern Ghana who must travel to Accra for these procedures.