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The Executive Director of the Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG) Dr. Emmanuel Akwetey has warned that any attempt by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) to underestimate the role of former president Rawlings in its electoral fortunes could spell doom for the party. Dr. Akwetey believes despite the humiliating defeat suffered by Mr. Rawlings' wife at the party�s delegates congress in Sunyani last weekend, the actions and decisions of the charismatic Jerry Rawlings still had serious repercussions for the governing party. Dr. Akwetey says the NDC has benefited immensely from the contribution of Mr Rawlings in the past and that �they know his strengths and they know what numbers he brings and he has strong following.� His comments come after Mr. Rawlings told an NDC youth delegation from the Ashanti region who met with him at his residence on Tuesday that he will not follow cowards to war, implying that his role in the party's campaign towards the 2012 elections may be low key. Mr. Rawlings is reported to have said even though he remains a member of the party, �I will not follow cowards to war because if you do, you will end up fighting alone because they will end up running and leaving you in the middle of the war.� He further told Joy FM at the Sunyani Congress that he can get cozy with President Mills on any day but it will just be cosmetic and until the real issues of social justice are tackled, it will be difficult for the party to win the 2012 General Elections. Dr. Akwetey is warning that the NDC is worse of without the support of its founder. He believes when the former President decides to keep a low profile, he will have the support of his ardent followers who "will not defy him." "In these closely fought elections... [where] numbers matter even when you have one vote and if you have a powerful ruler, an influential one [and] a founder of the party who for some reason will not campaign or will not tell the supporters �go with them� and so on, that is a problem.� He said this could turn out to be a major internal problem that could work to the disadvantage of the party if it is not handled with care.