BY Daniel Bampoe
Former Vice President and 2028 presidential candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mahamudu Bawumia, and his wife Samira Bawumia have successfully arrived in Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah, following public concern over their safety after reports circulated suggesting the couple had been evacuated from Qatar due to tensions in the Middle East.
Images and updates from the holy city of Mecca showed the couple observing the sacred Islamic rites, with supporters describing the occasion as a blessed moment as Dr. Bawumia and Hajia Samira performed the pilgrimage. Well-wishers have since prayed for Allah to accept their supplications and grant them wisdom, strength, and continued grace in service to the people of Ghana.
The clarification comes after sections of the media reported that Dr. Bawumia had been evacuated from Doha to Saudi Arabia amid escalating regional tensions involving global powers in the Middle East. The reports sparked concerns among supporters and members of the public about the safety of the former Vice President and his wife.
Responding to the reports, a special aide to Dr. Bawumia, Akbar Khomeini, issued a statement to dispel the claims and reassure the public that the couple was safe and well.
According to him, Dr. Bawumia and Hajia Samira had simply travelled from Doha to Saudi Arabia as part of a planned religious journey to perform Umrah, a significant Islamic pilgrimage undertaken by Muslims to the Holy City of Makkah.
The statement explained that the couple departed Doha on the morning of Wednesday, March 4, 2026, and were scheduled to commence the Umrah rites on Thursday, March 5, 2026. After completing the spiritual exercise, they are expected to leave Saudi Arabia on Saturday, March 7, 2026.
The trip forms part of Dr. Bawumia’s periodic religious observances, as the former Vice President, a practicing Muslim, has often participated in Islamic pilgrimages and faith-based engagements both locally and internationally.
Over the years, the Bawumias have also maintained close relations with religious communities, particularly within Islamic circles in Ghana.
The clarification by his aides was therefore intended to calm public anxiety and correct what they described as inaccurate reports regarding the circumstances of the couple’s movement from Qatar. Officials close to the former Vice President insist the trip was a normal religious visit and not an emergency relocation.
Supporters and well-wishers have since continued to send prayers and goodwill messages to the couple as they perform the sacred rites in Makkah, asking for divine guidance for Dr. Bawumia as he continues his political and public service journey.
