LAGOS: With the Islamic pilgrimage, or Hajj, beginning to get underway in earnest, Ghana's pilgrims will be greeted with a massive 70 percent discount on roaming fees from Vodafone Ghana in an effort to allow them to maintain communications with their families, the company said on Thursday evening. The offer from the telecom giant will give pilgrims in Saudi Arabia a cheaper way of maintaining contact with their families and friends in Ghana and “pay less during and after the season," the company said in a press release. It added that the offer will continue throughout the rest of 2012 and will only be given to prepaid customers. “Vodafone's Hajj offer is currently the only roaming offer in the country that gives 70% discount on roaming charges to the Saudi Arabian kingdom. Vodafone prepaid customers can activate and enjoy the offer by calling the Vodafone call center or by visiting any retail shop," the statement announcing the new offering said. Head of Consumer Marketing at Vodafone Ghana Tara Squire explained the reasoning behind the offer was that the company wanted “to empower our customers going for this year's Hajj to stay constantly connected to their families at home without worrying about how much it will cost them to do so. We are proud to be supporting our customers in a very meaningful and tangible way as they embark on this very important religious mission." Vodafone has also donated mobile handsets to the Hajj committee members to facilitate communication between pilgrims and the Hajj village back home in Ghana.
