President John Mahama’s recent gesture during his Thank You Tour of the Volta Region has sparked positive reactions from a section of Ghanaians on the X platform.

On Friday, while engaging with traditional chiefs, Mahama surprised many by requesting that the chiefs remain seated as they exchanged pleasantries, a move that contrasted sharply with the actions of his predecessor, President Nana Akufo-Addo.

The video of Mahama’s respectful interaction with the chiefs quickly gained traction on X, with users praising the president's approach. The scene stood in stark contrast to a controversial incident involving Akufo-Addo in April 2024, which had gone viral and led to widespread criticism.

At the funeral of Alhaji Rashid Bawa in the Oti Region, President Akufo-Addo arrived to find the chiefs seated. He expressed displeasure and insisted they stand before he would engage with them, which led to a delay in their greetings. His actions were widely condemned on social media, with many questioning his respect for traditional leaders.

At the time, John Mahama, then flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), had strongly rebuked Akufo-Addo, describing his behavior as disrespectful. "It was unbecoming of a president to treat traditional leaders in such a manner," Mahama had remarked, expressing his disappointment.

In contrast, X users who saw the recent footage of Mahama’s interaction with the chiefs expressed admiration for the dignity and respect shown by the current president. Many took to the platform to highlight the differences in leadership styles, especially in terms of engaging with the country's traditional authorities.

Here are some of the reactions from X users:

"@NAkufoAddo togbe agorkorli come and see something for me."

"Nebuchadnezzar would have done opposite."

"Respect. Unlike the other one that was forcing them to stand up and greet him"