Obasanjo and Annan to meet with President Mahama on West Africa drug challenges.
20 August 2014 – News Release
Accra, Ghana – Olusegun Obasanjo, chairman of the West Africa Commission on Drugs and Kofi Annan, chair of the Kofi Annan Foundation meet with John Dramani Mahama, chair of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and President of Ghana today to discuss regional responses to the growing drugs threat in West Africa.
In June, the West Africa Commission on Drugs concluded that drug trafficking, consumption and production in West Africa undermines institutions, threatens public health and damages development efforts. It called on West African governments to reform drug laws and policies and decriminalize low-level and non-violent drug offences.
“ECOWAS is uniquely placed to urge West African governments to collaborate and make common cause against the threat posed by drugs”, Chairman Obasanjo said. “Only a concerted regional response has a realistic chance of curbing the pernicious effects of this well-organized trade”.
“We…