COMING UP!>>Ep.46: West Africa Drug Policy Network (WADPN): Countdown to 26 June – International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking

Episode #46:

Time with West Africa Drug Policy Network (WADPN): Countdown to 26 June – International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

Since 1987, the UN has used 26 June to reflect on a society free of drug abuse. West Africa has the peculiar distinction of being home to what the UN Office on Drugs & Crime considers one of the six evils of crime, which includes drug trafficking.

In this second show showcasing the advocacy of the West Africa Drug Policy Network, we will be speaking to three members of the Network who will help us count down to 26 June, and remind us of the importance of the “Support, don’t punish campaign”, which seeks to put a human face on those who take drugs.

  

Call us on the following numbers when we open the phone lines at 14h30 GMT

+233(0)289.000.931 // +233(0)289.931.000

Join us if you can at 1pm on 23 June, 2015.

Guiding questions

·         What has been the state of play of WADPN’s advocacy since last show in February?

·         What is the “Support, don’t punish campaign”, and why is it important for WADPN’s advocacy?

·         What are some of the Network’s upcoming activities?

·         Is the Ghanaian public ready to accept a society free of drug abuse?

·         How instrumental has the West Africa Commission on Drugs been to WADPN’s advocacy?

Guests in the studio:

Ø  Marie-Ane Goretti, International Drug Policy Consortium(IDPC)

Ø  Christian Lokko, REMAR Ghana

Ø  Helen Meredith, WABHARM

Assistance:

Ø  Juana Akuamoah-Boateng, Assistant Producer, “Africa in Focus” Show

Guests on the line:

Ø  Macmillan Prentice, Ghana Standards Authority who will, @ 13h30, offer us an update of ECOSTAND (West African Quality Standard)

PODCAST:>>Episode 36: West Africa Drug Policy Network, & Analysis of Bill to transform Ghana’s Narcotics Board (NACOB) into a Commission

EPISODE #36
Research & Co-ordination: E.K.Bensah Jr
Executive Producer: E.K.Bensah Jr
Technical  Producer: D.J. Stagger

"Dear friends,

We used the thirty-sixth edition of the Africa in Focus show to give very important time to two technical experts, and a reformed drug addict, of the newly-established West Africa Drug Policy Network, which is backed by the Senegal-based West Africa Commission on Drugs.

The cardinal objective of the Network is to call for greater support of those afflicted by drug abuse, and help them rehabilitate back into society. 

The old narratives of "war on drugs" is one, the Network believes, is outdated and needs to quickly be replaced by one that supports--not punishes--drug users to have dignity for their lives. Prison only complicates their re-entry back into society, especially when antiquated and repressive narratives are used to punish them like criminals.

Of utmost importance for the Network, Marie-Goretti Ane, lawyer and technical expert of the Network explained, was for Ghanaian policymakers to carefully look through the new Bill that is ready to transform the erstwhile Narcotics Board into a Narcotics Commission. Some of the punishments for drug-users are downright punitive and excessive and find no place in an era where even countries like the US are beginning to re-consider old narratives of punishing the small fish.

We also spoke to Macmillan Prentice of Ghana Standards Authority who gave us a profound insight into the upcoming "ECOSTAND", which is a new (classification) standard for the sub-region.

As per usual, we had Kobby Blay of #EbolaWatch offer us an update of developments around Ebola.


Kindly find a link to download the podcast below:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/ubdf9fwzuts0j14/AFRICA%20IN%20FOCUS%20%2017-03-15.mp3?dl=0

Kind regards,
Emmanuel