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Enthusiastic supporters of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) whose hopes were raised high following reports that the party's Founder, Former President Rawlings will rock the party�s campaign in Techiman as part of his efforts to consolidate the campaign of President John Mahama, went home largely disappointed, when the ex-president opted instead to be a neutral. Mr Rawlings, it appears, was rather on a peace mission and not on a campaign trail. His message focused primarily on the need for a corruption-free society and also how important it is to avoid any form of violence before, during and after the elections. Accompanied by the Regional NDC Chairman Opoku Atuahene, Regional Organiser Mumuni Saaka and a founding member of the party Amankwa Bimpong, the former president earlier met with the Queen of the area, Nana Hemaa Abrefipoto, where he reportedly told her he was not there to campaign, but to rather appeal to the chiefs and elders there to educate the youth to avoid engaging in any electoral violence. The party supporters, oblivious of this, were very enthusiastic ahead of the message which they hoped will gear them up for the rest of the campaigning period. So expectant were the NDC faithfuls that the former president's "triumphant" entry into the Sunyani township was under the escort of numerous motorbikes. But to the disenchantment of the excited crowd, the former president, who they thought was there to kick-start his campaign for the NDC, simply asked them to hold their leaders accountable in their pledge to fight the canker of corruption. He emphasized the need for the country to organise yet another free and fair elections to avoid any possible rejection of the results. �We should not allow any kind of provocation among us that can lead to violence...Let us make sure the election would be free and fair so that the elections would be accepted...when we corrupt the electoral process, it can lead to massive instability,� he cautioned. PRESS RELEASE RAWLINGS: LET�S PROTECT BEAUTIFUL GHANA National Democratic Congress Founder, former President Jerry John Rawlings has called on Ghanaians to ensure a very peaceful, incident-free election because Ghana is a beautiful country and must be kept that way. The former President said if Ghanaians resist the temptation to provoke and respond to violent things then the elections will be held in a peaceful atmosphere. �When we corrupt the electoral process it can lead to instability and bloodshed. We don�t want that. We should stop provoking each other with some of the nasty things we say on radio. We must learn to show respect towards each other. �Let us protect the sanctity of the right of election and if we do have elections that are free and fair I believe we will all accept the results,� President Rawlings said. The former President made the call when he addressed hundreds of enthusiastic supporters of the National Democratic Congress who had converged at the forecourts of the Techiman Palace on Friday. �I plead with you not to allow any kind of provocation that will lead to violence. It is a beautiful country and let us keep it that way. President Rawlings, whose address was regularly intercepted by cheers of support and excitement, also called on Ghanaians to hold all Presidential candidates to the promise of combating corruption. He said Ghana is tired of corruption �so if they say they will fight corruption we will hold them to it. We have to tackle not only political corruption, but also judicial and economic corruption.� The Constituency Organiser of the NDC, Mumuni Saaka commended President Rawlings for bringing development to Techiman through the provision of electricity and water. President Rawlings however noted that that the development was as a result of the hard work and desire of the people of Techiman in supporting developmental policies during his tenure as head of state and President. Earlier president Rawlings called on the Queemother of the Techiman Tradition Area,Nana Hemaa Abrefipoto during which he urged the traditional leadership to support and lead the campaign for a peaceful election.