Ghana: on the road to decriminalization of all drugs

Ghana is set to become the first African country to decriminalize the personal possession and use of drugs, like Portugal.

The Ghana's Narcotics Control Commission Bill 2017, the law regulating narcotics in the country, is due to come into force by the end of the year. It will repeal and replace existing drug offences, which are currently punishable by a minimum of 5 years' imprisonment for purchase and consumption, and 10 years for possession.

Under the new law, anyone caught possessing or using drugs will face a fine instead of a criminal sentence. Only smuggling will remain punishable by prison.

The new law would also lead to the creation of a Narcotics Control Board to coordinate health policies around users and ensure that addiction is treated as a public health issue.

Today, West Africa is a nerve center for drug smuggling. Domestic use has soared in recent years, and prisons are clogged with drug users. Ghana's willingness to move away from past policies is also an acknowledgement of its failure.

Ghana is one of Africa's biggest consumers of weed, known as «wee» in the country. Medical patients can apply to the Ghanaian Ministry of Health for authorization to grow and consume cannabis for medical use.

The government of Ghana had reaffirmed its commitment in last April to complete the bill before the end of 2017.

Other African countries are also committed to reforming their laws on drugs, particularly cannabis. L’South Africa recently legalized its personal use, and a few coffeeshops are starting to appear. The Lesotho and the Zimbabwe are moving towards the possibility of growing medical cannabis.