President John Dramani Mahama has defended his regional ‘thank you’ tour, saying that it is in consonance with Ghanaian culture and tradition. He said “by Ghanaian customs and traditions, if some people come to sympathise with you in your times of grief, you are supposed to walk to the people to thank them for their support”. Therefore, he said, the suggestion by some people that he could have used only a nationwide address on television or written letters of appreciation to the various chiefs across the country was untenable. President Mahama made the assertion at a durbar of the chiefs and people of the Eastern Region at the Koforidua Jackson Park Wednesday. He was in the region to thank the chiefs and people for their love and support during the funeral of President John Evans Atta Mills. The President was accorded a warm reception to the region, beginning from Aburi, where he addressed a mini-durbar. He again addressed another durbar at Mamfe. The presidential convoy was met on arrival in Koforidua by a large crowd. Enthusiastic supporters wearing the National Democratic Congress (NDC) T-shirts with inscriptions such as: “HE, John Mahama for Victory 2012,” at Mile 50. Some of the supporters also carried placards with writings such as “HE John Mahama-Our Hero-Our President” and “HE John Mahama-One Touch”. Motorbike riders in NDC T-shirts led the President and his team to the town. The other party supporters on foot ran after the convoy, forcing the police to follow suit. President Mahama said by Ghanaian customs and traditions, it was not proper to call chiefs on phone or merely send them letters of appreciation. He said “our elders and fathers” had not taught him to send a letter or call chiefs and elderly people to thank them for their support. On the forthcoming election, President Mahama pledged to collaborate with the security services to maintain peace before, during and after the election in fulfillment of the promise made to Ghanaians by the late President Mills. He reiterated his assurance that an even and transparent platform would be provided for all Ghanaians to cast their votes. He said the question of who would become the next President of Ghana was in the hands of God, and urged Ghanaians to conduct themselves peacefully during the election. President Mahama said the late President Mills was eulogised as a man of peace, tolerance, unity and humility and urged Ghanaians to learn from his good example to guarantee the country’s peace. Touching on the media, the President urged the media not to use insulting and inciting language, since insult and abuse were alien to the Ghanaian culture. Besides, he said, the insults defeated the primary functions of the media, which include educating, informing and entertaining the public. The President noted that the late President Mills had initiated numerous projects across the country, including the Eastern Region and pledged to complete all the projects, including road, electricity, water and school. Daasebre Dr Oti Boateng, Omanhene of the New Juaben Traditional Area, thanked President Mahama for his ‘thank you’ visit to the region, saying that it was in tune with Ghanaian custom and tradition. He called for national cohesion and underscored the need for politicians and the media to abstain from the use of insulting language in order to maintain the prevailing peace in the country.