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A leading member of the People�s National Convention (PNC) says President John Dramani Mahama's Regional tour to thank the people for their contribution towards the final funeral rites of the late President Mills is at best a clever ruse to campaign for votes in the upcoming December polls. Abu Ramadan contends that the �Thank You� tour is simply a farce since no immediate member of the bereaved family is part of the entourage. President Mahama�s �Thank You� tour follows the overwhelming support government received from Ghanaians during the funeral and burial rites of the late President Mills on August 10. President Mills died on July 24 at the 37 Military Hospital after being taken ill. Mr Mahama has come under incessant public backlash with some saying his recent nationwide �Presidential Broadcast� on television and the letters of appreciation written by the Funeral Planning Committee and that of Former First Lady, Naadu Mills� family to Ghanaians were enough. But the president has stoutly defended the rationale behind his regional �Thank You� tour insisting it is in consonance with Ghanaian culture and tradition. To him, it is improper to go on air or use the phone to thank people who had contributed immensely in the performance of the funeral rites of the late President. According to him, custom demands that �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.� �Traditionally when somebody helps you to perform a funeral of a departed one, it is only fair that you thank the fellow, and so my tours are justified and Ghanaian,� President Mahama said in response to what some critics have said about the tour.