Sending small smokers to prison is inhuman – MP

General News of Sunday, March 31, 2019

Source: ghananewsagency.org

2019-03-31

Mr. James Agalga, a member of the hierarchy of the Restricted Defense and Interior Committee, described the inhuman imprisonment of small smokers, who became drug addicts.

In an interview with GNA, the MP for the electoral district of Builsa North said that these people are sick and need the help of the state to cure them of their addiction.

He added that if a person became addicted, the problem of arrest and incarceration would not solve the problem.

Mr. Agalga stated that jailing drug addicts exacerbates their situation and that "there is evidence that those who are incarcerated tend to smoke even more after release because they are addicted."

"They are sick and even in prison, they are trying to find ways to make the substance smoke, so it is clear that the arrest and prosecution of drug addicts is not the solution."

He therefore urged Parliament to speed up the adoption of the Narcotics Control Board bill to decriminalize the use of cannabis.

Once adopted, the Narcotics Control Board (NCCB) 2015 bill will help the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) to effectively combat illicit drugs in the country.

Meanwhile, Blakk Rasta, a radio host, also expressed his disappointment at the way innocent Ghanaians, sick with drug addiction, were thrown in jail.

He said the situation undermined Ghana's record on human rights.