President Mahama On Thank You Tour Of Central Region

President John Dramani Mahama - On nationwide 'Thank You' tour.

The people of Cape Coast have given the President, John Dramani Mahama, a warm welcome, on his arrival there as part of a two-day visit to the Central Region.

The visit is part of a nationwide tour to thank Ghanaians for their love, encouragement and support for the government during the funeral of President John Evans Atta Mills.

By the time the President reached Kasoa, the gateway to the Central Region from the Greater Accra Region, an enthusiastic crowd had lined up portions of the road at Kasoa to accord him a warm welcome.

When he saw an enthusiastic crowd waiting for his arrival, along the main road at Kasoa, President Mahama ordered his convoy to stop, got off his vehicle and joined them for about 20 minutes’ walk to the durbar ground.

President Mahama, who was mobbed by the crowd, many of whom were in National Democratic Congress (NDC) party colours, walked along the main Kasoa road, to acknowledge cheers from the people.

The Young Seed Academy accompanied the President with brass band music.

And when the convoy continued to the Mankessim Roadside Market, many traders and people from all walks of life had lined up along the road to welcome President Mahama to the market.

When he entered the market, the enthusiastic traders cheered him up, waiving national flags and handkerchiefs.

The situation was not different when President Mahama went to the Kotokuraba Market in Cape Coast.

He interacted with the traders and assured them of the government's determination to build a market complex there.

He said the government had secured a Chinese grant to build the Cape Coast Sports Stadium.

President Mahama visited the Kotokuraba Central Mosque, and on his way back to the residency for a retreat, he was encouraged by the number of people, lined up the street to catch a glimpse of him, to stand through the open-top of his vehicle to acknowledge cheers from them.

He was accorded similar rousing welcome on his way to attend a durbar of chiefs and people of Cape Coast at the Victoria Park.

His entourage included the Chief of Staff, Mr John Henry Martey Newman; the Minister of Trade and Industry, Mrs Hannah Tetteh; the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Mr Kwesi Ahwoi; the Minister of Lands and Natural Resource, Mr Mike Hammah; the Central Regional Minister, Mrs Ama Benyiwa Doe, and the Chairman of the NDC, Dr Kwabena Adjei.

President Mahama told the people at each of the gatherings that Ghanaians had shown love, unity of purpose and support for the government to give the late President Mills a befitting burial.

Therefore, he said, it was proper for him to go round the country to thank Ghanaians for their support.

He said the Central Region was his first point of call because it was the home region of the late President Mills.

The President used the occasion to thank all political parties for their support to the government to give the late President Mills a befitting burial.

For instance, he said, the political parties, including the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Convention People's Party (CPP), People's National Convention (PNC) and the Progressive People's Party (PPP) suspended their campaign when they heard of the death of President Mills.

President Mahama said the late President Mills was eulogised by all Ghanaians as a man of peace, tolerance and the one who would not respond to insults and the use of intemperate language.

He, therefore, urged Ghanaians to be guided by the virtues of the late President Mills and conduct their political discourse with more civility and decency.

Daasebre Kweku Ewusi VII, the President of the Central Regional House of Chiefs thanked President Mahama for selecting Paa Kwesi Amissah Arthur, a son of the region, as his Vice President.

He said the late President Mills had initiated projects in the region, including those for the elimination of schools under trees, distribution of school uniforms and improvement of roads.

He expressed the hope that President Mahama would continue with the good work initiated by the late President Mills under the Better Ghana Agenda.

He appealed to politicians to avoid the use of insulting language to ensure peace before, during and after the December 7, 2012, election.

President Mahama continues the thank you tour to the Western Region Saturday.