By Daniel Bampoe
In an extraordinary turn of events that has left an entire community stunned, a woman who was officially declared dead during the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia has returned home alive, days after her funeral was conducted in Accra.
Fatima Kassim, a resident of Madina UN in Accra, was at the center of the bizarre incident after Ghana’s consulate in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia mistakenly issued a death certificate in her name, prompting her family to observe Islamic funeral rites for her.
The Announcement of Death
According to family members and officials from Ghana’s Hajj Taskforce, the confusion began during this year’s annual pilgrimage to Mecca, when reports emerged that Fatima Kassim had died while receiving medical attention in a Saudi hospital.
The consulate in Jeddah, relying on hospital information, issued a death certificate confirming her demise. As per Muslim customs, her family in Ghana wasted no time in performing the appropriate funeral rituals, mourning her as deceased.
The incident reportedly sparked grief not only among her immediate family but also among the entire Madina community, many of whom gathered to pay their last respects.
The Shocking Return
However, on Wednesday, July 3, shockwaves were sent through the Madina community when Fatima herself walked through the gates of her home — very much alive.
Neighbours and eyewitnesses recounted scenes of chaos, with some reportedly fleeing in fear, convinced they had seen a ghost.
Others stared in disbelief as the woman they thought had been buried days earlier was now standing in front of them.
Speaking to Citi News during a visit to the family residence, Fatima’s relatives were still grappling with the emotional rollercoaster.
“I feel happy and sad, because we are still confused about the situation. This is like a wonder,” a family member told Citi News .
Clarification from the Hajj Taskforce
Following the startling development, officials from the Ghana Hajj Taskforce offered an explanation: it was a case of mistaken identity.
Former Member of Parliament and Hajj Taskforce official, Amadu Sorogho, acknowledged the error. “We have mistaken identity.
The most important thing is that the lady is alive and everything is over,” he said.
Providing more detailed clarification, the Director of Administration at the Hajj Taskforce, Iddi Sumaila, explained that two Ghanaian women were hospitalized in Saudi Arabia — one a tourist, and the other, Fatima, was officially registered with the Ghanaian Hajj delegation.
At the time of hospitalization, neither woman had her passport on her, making identification difficult.
“There were two patients there. One had a tourist visa, and the other went with us. But their passports were not with them. So we mistakenly assigned the identity of the one with the tourist passport to this one [Fatima],” Sumaila said.
He added that it was the embassy that processed the paperwork and issued the death certificate based on that error.
Diplomatic Oversight and Public Reaction
The incident has raised serious questions about diplomatic procedures and verification processes during the Hajj pilgrimage.
Critics are calling for a thorough review of the Ghana Hajj Secretariat’s identification and health monitoring systems, especially in emergency situations involving pilgrims.
Many Ghanaians on social media have reacted with disbelief and concern over the apparent loophole in handling such critical information.
Others expressed relief that Fatima Kassim is alive, though some called on the authorities to formally apologize to the family and the community for the emotional distress caused.
