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Mr Yaw Akrasi-Sarpong, a former Executive Secretary of the Narcotics Control Board, has called for a review of the national policy on drugs and narcotics.

He said there must be a drug policy reform to ensure that those addicted were seen and treated as sick, and not criminals.

Mr Sarpong made this submission at the Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) – Ghana, national open forum on drugs, in Accra.

The event was on the theme "Drug policy reforms in Ghana, the need for health and human right approach".

Mr Sarpong said experimentation and innovation were part of governance, and so there should be a review of Ghana’s drug policy, as it affected the lives of young people, who were most prone to drug addiction at a young age.

He said in the review bill, substance use disorder could no more be seen as a crime, but a disease; which he said was the beginning of a new era, since its inception in 1990.
“Smart law enforcement that targets large scale drug dealers, who bring hard drugs into the country, and control the illicit market, instead of petty peddlers and users," he said.
“If the policies and laws on drugs are not for the welfare and wellbeing of Ghanaians, there is a need for review," he said.

“The law on narcotics should be revisited, such that it allows for research into certain narcotics such as cannabis, for economic gains.

"Ghana can generate a lot of income from cannabis, such as its use for hair products, bio fuel, toothpaste and a host of others," he added.