From Benjamin Mensah, GNA Correspndent, Ottawa, Canada

Ottawa, Nov 20, GNA- Ahead of the 2012 elections, President John Evans Attta Mills at the weekend reiterated his commitment to, and call on Ghanaians for peaceful polls, stressing that violence and bloodshed do not have a place in Ghana.

He cautioned warmongers and trouble makers to take a cue from the sordid events of post election violence in neighbouring West African nations and elsewhere in Africa and commit themselves to making next year’s polls peaceful.

President Mills called on Ghanaians to co-operate with the Government, the Electoral Commission and respect the constitution for free, fair and transparent polls.

The President made the appeal at a Town Hall meeting with the Ghanaian community in Ottawa, the capital of Canada, where he ends a four-day working visit on Sunday.

President Mills said the Ghanaian electorate has to co-operate with the Electoral Commission (EC) to make the polls peaceful and to protect Ghana’s already enviable democratic credentials.

Likening the polls to a contest, President Mills stressed respect for the rules of the game so that no one individual but the nation of Ghana would be the ultimate winner of the game.

President Mills explained that the electorate belong to different political parties with freedom of choice, and different political strategies but all must converge at the centre of the territory called Ghana and make life better for the people.

The Head of State expressed a conviction that Ghanaians, no matter where they are want the best for their nation.

He commended Ghanaians resident in Canada and others in the Diaspora for supporting the Motherland through remittances, visits and phone calls, and conveyed his appreciation to the people for their time with him.

“We cherish the moment to meet with you and see how you are,” President Mills said, and called for constant prayers so that leaders and the citizens will continue to do what is right in the sight of the Lord for his continuous blessings.

Alhaji Mohamed Mumuni, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, said the Government has tremendous respect for people in Diaspora, and that the President has consequently made it a practice to interact with Ghanaians wherever he travels in the world.

Remittances from Ghanaians abroad, according to the Minister, shot up in recent years,helping individuals and families to meet crucial financial obligations and the nation as a whole.

He urged the people to take advantage of the improved macro- economic indicators, couple with the recent projection of the International Monetary Fund of being the fastest growing economy to invest heavily in the economy back home.