Drug-using populations are still facing many challenges, with lack of empathy, inaccessibility of naloxone, and health consequences following non-fatal overdose creating significant barriers to addressing overdose risks.
Defence lawyers have been struck with onerous fines and some defendants have had to represent themselves, in death penalty cases often incompatible with international law.
The recommendations by the Howard enquiry, an extensive fact-finding mission into evidence-based responses to methamphetamine use, included decriminalisation.
Harm reductionists decried authorities' 'high tolerance for death' and proposed to go ahead with the implementation of these evidence-based and life-saving initiatives.
Ghana's recent drug law reform goes back to the floor for amendments, offering an opportunity to further its alignment with human rights and social inclusion.
While the country retains the mandatory death penalty for supply offences involving more than 200g of the substance, the government is exploring medical applications.
