Sending wee smokers to jail is inhuman – MP
The Ranking Member for the Select Committee on Defence and Interior, Mr James Agalga, has described as inhuman the imprisonment of wee smokers, who have become addicted to the substance.
The Member of Parliament (MP) for Builsa North Constituency in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) said such individuals are sick and require help from the State to cure them of their addiction.
He said if one becomes addicted, the issue of arresting the person and incarcerating him or her would not solve the problem.
He said “they are sick and even while in prison they try to find ways and means of getting the substance to smoke. So, it is clear the arrest and prosecution of drug addicts is not the way to go.”
He has, therefore, urged parliament to hasten the passage of the Narcotics Control Commission Bill into law to decriminalise the use of Cannabis.
The Narcotic Control Commission Bill, 2015 when passed into law, will help Nacortic Control Board to properly combat illicit drugs in the country.
Meanwhile, Blakk Rasta, a Radio Presenter had also expressed disappointment at the way innocent Ghanaians sick of substance addiction were thrown into jail.
He said the situation undermines Ghana’s Human Rights record.
Source: GNA
