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Heaps of commendation pouring on the National Chairman of the National Hajj Committee (NHC), Alhaji Abdul Rauf Tanko, for the successful organization of two successive pilgrimages to Hajj, acclaimed the best in Ghana in recent, times keep swelling by the day. The latest to join numerous Ghanaian including no less a person than President John Dramani Mahama, is a former Spokesperson of NHC and one time parliamentary candidate aspirant of the ruling National Democratic Congress in the Ablekuma Central Constituency, Alhaji Halidu Haruna. According to him despite the complex nature in the organization of Hajj, especially the numerous vested interest of powerful people both in government and society, Alhaji Rauf Tanko and his team, since taking over, have managed to organize two successful and hitch- free Hajj trips. In an exclusive interview with The aL-hAJJ, the former aide to a former deputy Chief of Staff in the Mills administration, Alex Segbefia, noted that what is worthy of mentioning about Alhaji Rauf Tanko is his organizational prowess, strength in honesty, character in transparency and team work. �I am proud of Alhaji Tanko Rauf, the Chairman of National Hajj Committee; he has once again demonstrated competence by handling the organization of this year�s Hajj without any hitches (at least so far). What I saw as his strength is honesty, transparency and team work. I pray for Allah's protection and guidance for him and to all his team. This is what we call progress,� Alhaji Halidu Haruna stated. Enumerating some of the positive and laudable initiatives the current Hajj Chairman and his team have brought to the annual airlifting of Ghanaians pilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the former NHC spokesperson noted that, for the first time in many years, Ghanaian pilgrims were airlifted to Mecca without stranded paid up passengers, and brought back without complains from pilgrims and agents in the case of last year�s Hajj. �I have worked in that office before; and I know how difficult it is to airlift pilgrims to perform Hajj. Under the current Chairman, there is a mechanism in place to make sure Ghana does not exceed its quota. And you know what, the Chairman is very firm and straight forward, no matter who you are, he treats you like the way he will treat others. There is no preferential treatment for so-called big men and women in society. If you think you are a big man or his friend and you can walk to him to help you get some people to travel to Saudi Arabia when he has exhausted the quota given Ghana, he will politely tell you in the face that he can�t do it. That is the mark of a strong leader, and I�m happy we have someone like that handling the Hajj organization,� Alhaji Halidu Haruna noted. Without mincing words, he added that he could not fathom how the Hajj Chairman and his team managed to airlift all the backlog of pilgrims left behind by previous NHCs, including his (Alhaji Halidu Haruna) team without demanding new payments from them. �Look, if someone has done something that is worthy of praise and commendation, let�s be bold and say it. Let�s call a spade a spade. Alhaji Tanko has done a marvelous job and I admire him for that. He has shown that he is a team player and the manner in which he delegates his subordinates to assist him in handling some aspects of the work shows that he trust them�and I�m not surprise that they have chalked this enviable feat that has become the talk of town, even outside the Muslim community,� added. Alhaji Abdul Rauf Tanko took over the organization of Hajj last year and has since acquitted himself creditably, a record that has earned him admiration from the Presidency, office of the National Chief Imam, the Hajj Agents Association, the Muslim community and Ghanaians alike. Despite being a novice in the organization of Hajj, he is credited to have supervised two hitch-free Hajj and also has introduced some laudable initiatives among which includes the provision of zamzam (holy water) to all pilgrims upon arrival in Ghana, modern offices at the Hajj village, decent accommodation and feeding for pilgrims among others. His humility, transparency and wider consultations with all stakeholders was what Alhaji Halidu Haruna said, led to a very successful 2013 Hajj and smooth airlifting of over 5000 pilgrims for this year�s hajj.