TWO-DAY NATIONAL DIALOGUE ON THE GLOBAL GUIDELINES ON HUMAN RIGHTS AND DRUG POLICY KICK-STARTS IN ACCRA

The United Nations Resident Coordinator, Mr. Charles Abani, expressed gratitude to the Federal government of Ghana for hosting the first-ever National Conversation on the International Guidelines on Human Rights and Medication Policy in Africa. He or she also urged countries to pursue a holistic approach that unites health, criminal justice and social services, plus respects and protects human being rights in accordance with International Drug Control Framework.
The Minister of the Interior, Hon. Ambrose Dery (MP), has expressed the commitment of the Government of Ghana to ensuring that drug laws and policies are usually consistent with its obligations beneath the International Human Rights Treaties that Ghana has ratified or acceded to. The particular Minister made the statement when he addressed the first National Dialogue on the execution of the International Guidelines on Human Rights and Drug Policy in Africa as well as the 2 ^nd at the global level which is being held from 12 ^th to 13 ^th December, 2022 at the Ministry associated with Foreign Affairs and Local Integration.
Hon. Dery informed participants that will as part of efforts by the Authorities to empower mandated State Institutions to perform effectively, the Narcotics Control Commission Behave was passed by Parliament in 2020 essentially in order to transform the erstwhile Narcotics Control Board with restricted functions into the Independent Drugs Control Commission with an expanded mandate and law enforcement power. He added that Ghana is in the process of developing a Nationwide Drug Control Master Program (NDCMP), which is expected to become completed between 2022 – 2026.
The former Executive Secretary from the erstwhile Narcotics Control Board, Mr. Yaw Akrasi Sarpong, in his Keynote Speech observed that the International Guidelines upon Human Rights and Medication Policies offer valuable assistance with how to strengthen national reconstructs which commenced in 2020. He added that the guidelines would help push forward the full realisation of the into the human rights of Ghanaian communities.
The Deputy Minister intended for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Hon. Thomas Mbomba (MP), on his part, expressed the hope that the deliberations would yield a concerted, multi-disciplinary, and evidence-based approach to dealing with the drug nuisance in the country.   He additional that the two-day national dialogue would not only create understanding of the International Guidelines on Human Rights and Drug Policy but would also come out with relevant recommendations which would serve the interest of Ghana and ensure further improvements within the country’s Drug Policy.
The National Dialogue which is being hosted by the Ministry associated with Foreign Affairs and Local Integration in collaboration with stakeholders such as Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, Law Enforcement Firms, the Judiciary, Civil Societies, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), and International Organisations, aims at producing an opportunity for stakeholders to talk about how to align National Medication Laws and Policy using the International Human Rights legislation and Standards which was released in 2019.

Source