Akosombo, May 15, GNA - The Electoral Commission (EC) has reprimanded the leadership of seven political parties for a breach of portion of the Political Parties Law because they failed to include women in the participants for the recent three-day self-assessment forum at Akosombo.

Contrary to provision of the political parties law and principle of gender equality as enshrined in the 1992 Constitution, they failed to include at least a woman in the delegation of five.

Dr Kwadwo Afari-Gyan, Chairman of EC who observed the positive discrimination against women by leadership of the political parties tasked them to adhere to the tenets of the law and create room for women participation in all aspect of political activities.

They are; Peoples' National Convention (PNC), National Democratic Congress (NDC), New Patriotic Party (NPP), Convention Peoples' Party (CPP), Democratic Freedom Party (DFP), Reformed Patriotic Democrats (RPD), Ghana National Party (GNP) and Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP).

The self-assessment forum was organised by the EC in collaboration with management of KAB Governance Consult and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) under the theme "Safeguarding the Integrity of the Ballot Project".

Dr Afari-Gyan noted that within the framework of a democratic policy, laws, development policies, plans and programmes were aimed at women's advancement in different spheres.

Leadership of the political parties apologised to the EC, and assured the nation of their commitment to gender activism in their operations. committing to secure equal rights of women. Key among them is the ratification of the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) in 1993, the Mexico Plan of Action (1975); the Nairobi Forward Looking Strategies (1985); and the Beijing Declaration, as well as the Platform for Action (1995). 15 May 09