The Executive Director of a Women Centered Civil Society Organization, Centre for the Promotion of Democratic Governance (CENPRODEG), Mrs. Abiba Nibaradun has stated that the days of the magi and salt distribution politics in the Upper West Region are over adding that the women are committed to fighting for their rights and will therefore engage politicians who want their votes. Mrs. Nibaradun made the statement at the launch of the Upper West Women election 2012 manifesto which is being supported by Star-Ghana under the Promoting Elections Accountability and Civil Engagement (PEACE). The goal of the project is to deepen women participation in the democratic process and contribute to a non-violent, free, fair and credible 2012 legislative and presidential elections in the region and the country at large. The executive director said despite several efforts made to ensure that women representation is achieved at all levels of governance, women are still under represented particularly in positions of power and leadership. She blamed the failure on some socio-cultural practices in the country regarding the status of women which they find difficult to dissociate from for fear of been ostracized. She added her voice to the numerous call for ‘‘affirmative action’’ against the delineation of women to contest in some constituencies as it is been done in universities where the position of Women’s Commissioner is created just to appease women who want to gain entry in to the Student’s Representative Council. The Upper West Regional Minister, Alhaji Amin Amidu Sulemani in his speech before he launched the manifesto said the manifesto is a living document and must stand the test of time. He added that it should also set the agenda for the issue based electioneering campaigns in the region which they need to demonstrate firm commitment and contribute to the realization of the document. The Upper West Regional Minister underscored the importance of peace as the nation inches towards the electioneering period. ‘‘Events over the past week in the three Northern Regions give some cause for worry and we all must show concern. The stories and gory pictures we have heard and seen are unacceptable and we must rise up to urge our people to give peace a chance. We are already so deprived that we cannot dissipate the little that we have in solving conflicts which are avoidable. We must therefore urge our people to resort to dialogue to deal with the differences, ‘’he added. He assured them that the security agencies are alert and will deal ruthlessly with anybody person or group of persons who wants to foment trouble.