For this reason, the UN Women has called on the Ghanaian Government and leaders of all political parties to advocate zero tolerance against actions which seriously limited right of women to vote and to participate in decision-making.

It has therefore urged the authorities to carry out immediate, thorough and effective investigations to stop further escalation especially as the country prepares for elections.

?Prosecuting and punishing anyone who attempts to inflict pain and intimidate others during the election process are critical to ending election-related violence. Such actions endanger the free right to vote and to run for office, as well as threaten the fundamentals of freedom of speech and freedom of assembly, which are essential to guaranteeing a free and fair democratic election process.?

This was contained in a press release issued in Accra and signed by Ms Afua Ansre, the National Programme Coordinator of the UN Women Office in Accra.

According to the statement, reports reaching her outfit indicated that the incidents which involved both women and men have been recorded in all the ten regions of Ghana, since the biometric voter registration commenced on 25th March, 2012.

The incidents, she said, included beatings, assaults, burning of houses and shootings.

The UN Women urged political parties and aspiring parliamentarians at the constituency level to promote peaceful participation of their supporters in the election process and called on supporters, particularly the youth, to refrain from violence and respect the national laws and public order.

It encouraged the Electoral Commission (EC), National Commission on Civic Educational (NCCE), schools, women groups, churches and mosques and corporate bodies to also educate the public about the proper procedures for challenging the nationality and age of applicants in order to avoid chaotic situations at registration centers.

The UN Women hoped for peaceful, free and fair elections and a smooth exercise of the fundamental rights of all Ghanaian women and men to vote.