General News of Friday, 12 December 2014

Source: starrfmonline.com

Make weed smoking a bailable offence – Maurice Ampaw

A legal practitioner – Maurice Ampaw – has described the law that denies marijuana smokers bail as a “bad law”.

“That law is a bad law, that law needs to be reviewed, that law needs to be expunged from our statute books…” Ampaw said in an interview with Kafui Dey on MORNING STARR Friday.

Speaking in relation to the arrest, detention and ongoing prosecution of Musician Kwaw Kese for publicly smoking weed, Ampaw said: “I think when it comes to the legalisation of weed, I’m against it, but I’m looking at those who use it on a small quantity [basis] that they should make it a bailable offence.

“They should not put it at the category of cocaine…those who traffick it.”

He said: “Maybe the person may need help…the person who is addicted should be helped rather than incarcerated…” Ampaw suggested.

Kwaw Kese, who has been denied bail on two occasions, is still languishing in cells.

He was discharged from the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital Thursday night after he was rushed there after taking ill.

StarrFMonline.com can confirm that ‘Abodam’, as he is affectionately called, left the hospital at about 8.30pm after his treatment.

He was subsequently whisked to the Kumasi Central Prisons where he has been on remand over the last three weeks.

Meanwhile, StarrFMonline.com understands that lawyers for the embattled musician have filed a motion for bail at the High Court after the Circuit Court refused their initial bail plea.

Although the case at the Circuit Court has been adjourned to December 22, the application for bail at the high court is likely to be heard Friday or early next week.