The former President, Jerry Rawlings, swerved the masses at Tuesday?s protest march against the passage of the controversial Representation of Peoples Amendment Bill (ROPAB) reports the Chronicle.

According to the Chronicle report, Jerry Rawlings had earlier pledged to join forces with a group of ?Concern Ghanaians? to stage a second in the series of demonstrations organised by the group.

The former president, who was expected by all demonstrators including the media, failed to turn up to demonstrate alongside his former Vice President, Prof. John Evans Atta-Mills and a host of ex-Ministers against the ROPAB.

Joy and excitement gripped the masses when they saw Mr. Victor Smith, Special Assistant to the Former President, alighting from the car as if it was Mr. Rawlings as they shouted, ?Rawlings! Rawlings!?, realizing later that it was not him.

Mr. Smith later told the Chronicle that his boss rescinded his decision to allow those leading the demonstration to pour out their grievances, and that Mr. Rawlings presence would cause the media to divert attention on the key issues raised by the ?Concern Ghanaians? and focus on him.

Mr Rawlings had hailed sections of Ghanaians, describing them as peace loving, for coming out massively to register their protest as far as the bill was concerned.