Riyadh — Three cabinet ministers, one deputy and a former minister in the Ernest Bai Koroma-led government last Thursday completed their 5-day hajj rituals in the holy places of Mecca, Mena, Arafat and Muzdalifah.

Foreign affairs and international co-operation minister, Hon. Haja Zainab Hawa Bangura, internal affairs, local government and rural development minister, Alhaji Dauda Sulaiman Kamara, and deputy minister of social welfare, gender and children's affairs, Haja Jenneh Kandeh arrived in Saudi Arabia on Friday 20th November, 2009 on the auspices of the Saudi Royal protocol department to perform this year's hajj.

Employment, labour and social security minister, Alhaji Minkailu Mansaray and former minister of transport and aviation, Alhaji Ibrahim Kemoh Sesay arrived in the Kingdom with the first batch of 497 pilgrims on Thursday 12th November, 2009.

Vice president Alhaji Abubakar Sidique Sam-Sumana was also on pilgrimage to the holy land under the auspices of the custodian of the two holy Mosques, King Abdullah Ibn Abdul Aziz Al-Suad, while information and communications minister, Alhaji Ibrahim Ben Kargbo performed his few years back.

Hajj is the fifth pillar of Islam and obligation only for those who are physically and financially able to perform it.