Ghana Strives for a More Humane Drug Policy


Recently, the government of Ghana proposed the Narcotics Control Commission Bill of 2017 (NCC) to replace the current Narcotic Drugs (Control, Enforcement, and Sanctions) Law of 1990 (PNDCL 236) that criminalizes all drug-related activities including drug use, possession, trade, and production. NCC aims to decriminalise drug consumption in Ghana. The initiative is a recognition of the grave impact on public health of the country’s current drug legislation, which imposes punitive sanctions on those engaged in the consumption, production, and trafficking. However, the ramifications of legal change could be felt beyond the country as Ghana could become a norm entrepreneur in the region for harm reduction policies.

Go to link http://www.swansea.ac.uk/media/GDPOSitAnalysisJune2018Maria-GorettiAne.pdf

In Africa, the issue of Drug use is addressed with contempt and people who use drugs are treated as criminals who have nothing to offer society other than perpetuating crimes. Governments are at the forefront of this criminalization of people who use drugs and treat the victims with the firm arm of the law, yet there has not been any improvement on the issue despite the increasing number of arrests and incarceration of people who are in conflict with the law for drug offences. In an interview with Mrs Maria-Goretti Ane -Loglo, the African Consultant for the International Drug Policy Consortium (IDPC); we discussed the current Drug policies and what can be done in Africa if indeed governments will want to win the so-called war on drugs. She analyzes Government approach on Drug use in relation to Human Rights and the activities of IDPC in creating awareness and influencing these Government policies to suit both the victims and society at large. Go to link http://glamsquadmagazine.com/maria-goretti-ane-loglo-speaks-on-idpc/