There are many stories about ghosts, but the case of a Ghanaian woman pronounced dead in Mecca who returned home alive after her funeral had been held and a death certificate issued has sent shock waves across the Madina community in Accra.

According to the Hajj Board, she was officially pronounced dead, and all due processes were followed. Her death certificate was issued by Ghana’s consulate in Saudi Arabia, and her funeral was conducted in Ghana according to Islamic customs.

This bizarre story has stirred mixed feelings among her family, residents, and the entire nation, as the Ghana Hajj Task Force has been called upon to answer questions regarding what they now describe as a case of mistaken identity. She was initially reported to have died while performing this year’s Hajj.

The woman, identified as Fatima Kassim, returned home on Wednesday, July 2nd, just a few days after her funeral.

Residents of her neighbourhood who knew her and had attended or heard of her funeral reportedly fled in fear when she arrived in a taxi with her belongings around 2 p.m. on that Wednesday.

According to a family member who spoke to Channel 1 News, they were at home when some of Fatima Kassim’s belongings, along with the news of her passing in Mecca, were brought to them. She added that they were confused and devastated when they received the news and the accompanying medical report.

Below is the attached permit for her burial.

Another resident who was interviewed explained that she was among the first to see Fatima Kassim upon her arrival and confirmed that she was not a ghost. She recounted that she was sitting at the entrance of Fatima Kassim’s residence when she saw her arrive in a taxi from the airport. Suspicious, she questioned her sister, who confirmed that the person alighting was indeed Fatima Kassim.

Her funeral had been held on Sunday, June 29th, so they were gripped by fear at her sudden appearance. They initially ran away but later approached her to confirm if she was truly alive. After speaking with Hajia Fatima, she told them she was not dead; rather, she had been unwell upon arrival and ended up in the hospital.

When Fatima Kassim’s mother was interviewed, she was too overwhelmed to speak and only nodded, indicating she was happy her daughter had returned alive, though still in shock and wondering what had actually happened.

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According to an administrative officer of the Hajj Task Force, the local task force has little control over such incidents, as it only receives official information from Saudi Arabia. Therefore, it shared the information that had been made available to the family at the time.

One thing that is not clear is whether there was any body received by the family before her funeral was carried out. In deed there are more questions than answers now.

About the Author

Wisdom Kojo Eli Hammond is a passionate Ghanaian writer, digital advocate and education consultant at Education-News Consult. He is dedicated to promoting transparency, digital inclusion, and consumer rights. With years of experience analysing education, leadership, administration-related issues, and impacting students in classrooms and lecture halls, he also discusses a variety of issues relevant to Ghanaian readers—including telecom, business, and governance.

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He empowers readers to make informed choices and stand up against exploitative practices. When he’s not writing, preparing students for BECE and WASSCE, or delivering public talks on leadership, education, or business, he actively supports youth initiatives and advocates for ethical digital transformation in Ghana.