The National Hajj Committee (NHC) has congratulated the Saudi Arabia Embassy in Ghana for their cooperation with the committee on the preparation of the 2013 pilgrimage.

The committee has also commended the Ambassador His Excellency Hesham Meshal Sowulem and Mr Nayef Abdullah M. Alfadhli, Head of the Consular Section for their commitment and support to the NHC.

Mr Ibrahim Abdul-Rauf Tanko, Chairman of the Committee made the commendation in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Accra on Saturday.

He said for the first time, the committee requested for an official from the Saudi Arabia Embassy, who works at the committee office as a liaison officer between the Embassy and the committee.

Mr Tanko said the request was granted and Alhaji Mohammed Osman Manaf was assigned as the liaison officer to the committee.

He said so far, the cooperation between the committee and the Embassy had been cordial, adding that, “The Ambassador and the staff deserves commended for their cooperation.”

Mr Tanko noted that it was important for the committee and Ghanaians, as a whole, to appreciate and commend the Government of Saudi Arabia for their efforts in strengthening their bilateral relationship with Ghana.

He also pledged the commitment of the Government of Ghana to strengthening the Diplomatic ties between Ghana and Saudi Arabia.

Mr Tanko said, so far, about 1,380 passports had been submitted to the embassy, with 300 of them already issued with visas as at Friday.