CPP will not jail citizens for cannabis use and possession – Vice presidential candidate

The vice-presidential candidate of the Convention People's Party (CPP), Lawyer Wayoe Ghanamanti, has announced that the CPP government will not imprison individuals for the use and possession of cannabis.

Speaking to GhanaWeb TV, he criticised the current sentencing regime, which imposes a ten-year prison term for offenders.

“I want Ghanaians to understand this clearly because it’s a pressing issue. We will not incarcerate citizens for the possession and use of cannabis. The CPP government will not do this. Currently, we are locking up a 38-year-old citizen, and they are expected to return at age 48. What purpose does that serve?” he questioned.

Wayoe clarified that he is not advocating for the legalisation of cannabis but instead is calling for a more constructive approach to sentencing that focuses on national development.

“I am not suggesting we change the law or legalize cannabis. Keep your law, arrest them, but let’s be humane with sentencing. Instead of sentencing a young person to ten years, why not let them work on state farms or construction sites? These are the human resources we need for rapid development,” he stated.

He also emphasised that individuals found guilty of cannabis use or possession could be valuable assets to the country if directed toward productive work rather than incarceration.

“Basic economics shows that raw materials require manpower for production. If you have resources but lack the manpower, you cannot produce. Production relies on manpower,” he explained.

Wayoe outlined the CPP's plans to address this issue, stating, “We will reform the judicial system to ensure that no Ghanaian youth is incarcerated for cannabis possession.

“Those who require rehabilitation will receive it. Instead of keeping our youth locked up, we should utilize them in roles that support national development, such as on rail lines, construction sites, and state farms. As a lawyer who understands the system, I affirm that we will not incarcerate them; we will put them to good use.”

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