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Political parties in the Upper East Region have pledged their commitment to ensure a violence-free elections in coming general elections.

The leadership of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), the New Patriotic Party (NPP), the Convention People’s Party (CPP) and People’s National Convention People’s Party (PNC) made the commitment at a forum organised by the Community Development and Advocacy Centre (CODAC), a local NGO based in Bolgatanga.

The Upper East Region currently has some conflict prone zones including the Talensi Constituency, the Bongo and Chiana –Paga Constituencies.

The forum, which was in the form of debate, was to afford the various political parties the chance to inform stakeholders on how they have institutionalized gender equality in their party structures and their commitment to peaceful elections.

Various executives who represented their political parties included Mr Paul Dankan of the NDC, Mr Bashiru Ibrahim of the NPP and Mr Albert Abongo of the PNC.

Explaining the rationale behind the programme, Mr Seidu Musah Akugri, the Executive Director of CODAC, said what informed the organisation of the event was the low participation of women in political activities.

The Executive Director said apart from the Bongo District Assembly, which met the criteria of the 40 per cent women appointment to the District Assembly, all the 12 Districts in the Region failed to meet the expectation.

“It is in the light of this, [that] we are organising a panel debate for the representatives of the various political parties to debate the extent to which each party has mainstreamed gender considerations into their structures”, he said.

He said another aim for the programme was to also assess the commitment level of the various political parties towards creating space for women participation in their regional and local structures as contained in their manifestos.

The occasion was used to honor Mr Alexis Ayamdor, the Bongo District Chief, for his exemplarily role in bridging the gender gaps of the Bongo District Assembly.

Mr Ayamdor said the Bongo District Assembly exceeded the 40 per cent appointment of women to the District Assembly adding that he acted in accordance with government policy.

The DCE urged his colleagues Municipal and District Chief Executive to comply with the government’s directive by meeting the appointment 40 per cent of women into leadership positions.

He commended the NGO for contributing to the reduction of gender gaps by lobbying the traditional councils of the Region.

Mr Norbert Akolbila, the Board Member of CODAC, who thanked the leadership of the political parties for their commitment towards the maintenance of peace, said the people in region would hold them accountable if they failed to honor their commitments.

Mr Pontius Pilate Appabey Baba, the Regional Director of the National Commission for Civic Education, said one of the major problems confronting the democratic process of the country was the failure to involve more women in the decision making process.

He called on all institutions to ensure that more women are appointed into leadership roles to help enhance our development and democratic process.