Drug Law Enforcement Agency, The Gambia (DLEAG) in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) as part of the ECOWAS Drug Project organised a two days’ popularization workshop on the Drug Control Bill. Organised at the Ocean Bay hotel in Bakau from the 26th to 27th September 2019, the workshop targeted Civil Society Organisations (CSO’s), Youth groups and Journalists.
Speaking at the opening ceremony on behalf of the Director General, DLEAG, Director Legal Affairs, Raymond Jarju thanked participants for honouring their invitation. He disclosed that the need for complete overhaul of the Drug Control Act (DCA) 2003 is to provide for balance provisions between supply suppression and demand reduction and equally in tandem with internationally recognised standards of best practices. Director Jarju said that CSO’s, Youth Groups and members of the media fraternity have an important role to play in the crusade on drugs and the drafting of the Drug Control Bill, as such, their contribution and recommendation are highly valued and will be given due consideration.
Mr Hassan Dramme, Legal Officer, UNODC Dakar Office applauded the initiative to overhaul the Act and engaging CSO, s, Youth Groups and Media Fraternity to popularize the drug control bill and get their opinion and recommendations. West Africa he said, remains highly vulnerable as far as illicit drug trafficking and related crimes is concerned. He made mention of Tramadol, which is highly abuse by many people in West Africa. Mr. Dramme expressed delight at the move to include Tramadol in the new Drug Control Bill as a controlled drug.
‘UNODC is committed to make sure illicit drug trafficking, drug abuse and related crimes are minimized’ stated Mr. Dramme. He finally thanked the European Union who he said are the main sponsors of the implementation of the ECOWAS Regional Action Plan.
Dr Sena Tutu representative of the permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior welcome the participants to the workshop. She said inviting civil societies to such workshop is very important because they can also make valuable contributions and recommendations that will better the Drug Control Bill. She further urge the participants to give recommendations that will be suitable in the drug control bill and advised them to disseminate the information to the public because the DLEAG cannot do it alone.
