Ghanaian Pilgrims Commend Hajj Committee

Ghanaians Pilgrims embarking on the 2013 pilgrimage in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have commended the National Hajj Committee (NHC) for organizing an incident free Hajj. The pilgrims also expressed their appreciation to President John Mahama for ensuring that the pilgrimage was well organized. In an interview with some of the pilgrims in Madina, Saudi Arabia, on this year's organization, Haji Hawabu Mahama said this year's Hajj had been well organized and that for the first time in five years, "the pilgrims had been housed only 60 metres away from the Holy Mosque in Madina.� She said this shows progress in the organization of Hajj in Ghana and appealed to the NHC to continue with the good work done, adding, "Ghanaians should give the committee the needed support to serve us better." Alhaji Wamta Abdallah, a member of the Hajj Agents Association of Ghana, noted that the Chairman of the committee has shown some leadership qualities in his administration and organization even though it was his first time working with the association. He said Muslims in Ghana appreciates the good work done by the Chairman, Alhaji Tanko, and called on all pilgrims to pray for him. "At least he has made the organization easy and simple for Agents and pilgrims this year." Alhaji Mohammed Alhassan, a pilgrim, said "I am satisfied with the accommodation the NHC has secured for us", adding that, �at least, they have brought us closer to the Holy Mosque." The Executive Secretary of the NHC, Mr Abdulai Nashiru confirmed that the houses secured by the committee at the various holy sites in Makkah and Mina are similar to those in Madina. He said the committee has put in place measure to protect the properties of Ghanaian pilgrims at all the various sites. Meanwhile the Day of Arafat is expected to fall on or around October 14, 2013, which is the eve of the Eid Al-Adha celebration.