Veteran journalist and political commentator, Kwasi E Baako, has called on the Ghanaian government to reconsider its approach to marijuana-related offenses, particularly the incarceration of young people found in possession of the substance.
Speaking on Radio Kulcha, Baako described the practice as “highly unfair” and warned that the current punitive system is doing more harm than good.
“Someone possessing marijuana and being arrested is highly unfair,” he said. “Most of these young guys taken to prison end up learning more bad things there. Instead of reforming them, we’re hardening them.”
While marijuana remains illegal in Ghana for recreational use, there have been increasing calls for the decriminalization of possession for personal use, with advocates arguing for a more rehabilitative and health-centered approach rather than criminal punishment.
He further cautioned that Ghana’s prison system is already overburdened and not equipped to offer meaningful rehabilitation, especially for first-time or minor drug offenders. “We’re crowding our prisons with young men whose only crime is possession. Meanwhile, real criminals walk free.”
Several civil society organizations and health experts in Ghana have echoed similar sentiments, pushing for reforms that focus on education, counseling, and harm reduction, rather than incarceration.
Kwasi E Baako’s appeal adds to the mounting pressure on policymakers to modernize the country’s drug laws and align them with more progressive global standards. For many, it’s not just about marijuana; it’s about creating a justice system that prioritizes opportunity and rehabilitation over punishment and marginalization.
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