Decriminalization of personal use is a responsible pathway to controlling drugs

The reality is that the demand for drugs is there and is not going anywhere despite fifty years of inhumane and blind prohibition
Ghanaian Times (Ghana)
Wednesday, November 6, 2019

Olusegun ObasanjoSimilar to other countries in the region, Ghana is experiencing growing drug availability, trafficking and consumption. This phenomenon, more and more visible and problematic for a decade now, is related to the development of a new cocaine trafficking route through West Africa, from Latin America and towards Europe or North America. The strategic choice of traffickers to use our region for transit is based on many issues that provide opportunities for drug traffickers: the weakness of institutions; the lack of transparency of financial institutions; and corruption. One can wonder why Ghana is unsuccessful in controlling drugs, when it applies the harshest penalties for drug-related offences in West Africa?