Founder of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) Jerry John Rawlings is reported by the Daily Guide newspaper as saying he did not campaign for President Mahama during the 2012 elections.

According to Daily Guide, Mr Rawlings made these comments when the leadership of the neo-traditional movement Afrikania Mission called on him in Accra.

The African tradition believers were at the office of the former president to invite him for a planned (African Spirituality Exhibition) event scheduled for September 21, 2015.

A lecturer at the University College of Education, Winneba, Osofo Professor Kwakuvi Azasu, who acted as spokesman for the group, raised issues with the current administration's decision to ban the pouring of libation at State functions.

Prof Kwakuvi Azasu believes that it was not good for the coun­try since Ghana is not only made up of Christians and Muslims but also traditionalists; hence the need to restore the pouring of libation, an African traditional religious practice.

That, he said, was one of the reasons they thought it wise to call on the former President so he would impress upon President John Mahama to restore the practice because he (Rawl­ings) campaigned for Mahama to win the 2012 general elections.

But even before the Professor could end his speech, Mr Rawlings interrupted with a quick response “no, no, no; I didn’t vote [or] campaign for Mahama”.

On the issue of the ban on the pouring of libation, the ex-president said “to take a position that rejects libation pouring is most unfortunate”, adding that “we are turning our backs on our ancestors and that’s no good enough”.

According to him, the ban on pouring libation has partly given way to an era where lies had become the order of the day.

He indicated that people could lie with the Bible and the Quran and get away with it, but when one mentioned a deity then lies run away.

He decried how his own party, the NDC – one he described as “liberators”, had ended up restoring and perpetuating a class rule in the country.

Mr Rawlings accepted the invitation to the exhibition saying he was looking forward to attending.