Specify what constitutes illegal drugs – Akrasi Sarpong

The former Executive Director of the Narcotics Control Board (NACOB), Dr. Akrasi Sarpong, has called for the amendment of Ghana's drug laws to specify what constitutes illegal drug usage.

According to Dr. Sarpong, the current law, for instance, is silent on the kinds of cannabis that can be used for industrial purposes.

Speaking at the first public lecture on drug reforms in Accra by POS Foundation, West African Drug Policy Network and Crime Check Foundation, Dr. Sarpong said there is the urgent need for drug reforms that spell out the true definition of illegal drug usage.

He said: “I’m calling for reforms because nobody can use any species of cannabis for any industrial purposes. The law does not define what is illegal, it just says the cannabis plant but the cannabis plant has various species and varieties and we import jute bags into this country when we could be making our own sacks with hemp which is a cannabis species, so, my understanding of drug reform policy is that the definition ought to be specific in the law.”

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Defence and Interior, Mr. Seth Acheampong said the bill on narcotics will be passed into law to enhance drug management.