The Economic Fighters League (EFL) has demanded an immediate judicial review of all past cannabis-related convictions.
The call follows a significant clarification by the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), which the Fighters hail as a historic policy pivot away from the “unjust and irrational” prohibition of the plant.
The group, which has long faced public ridicule for its advocacy, insists that the state must now move beyond mere legalisation to achieve restorative justice for those crushed by decades of “senseless” farm burnings and incarcerations.
“The System was wrong”: Fighters claim victory
Reflecting on years of advocacy that saw them “caricatured and depicted as reckless”, the Fighters maintained that their stance against the criminalisation of cannabis was always rooted in economic logic and social justice.
They argued that the previous regime of prohibition was a war on the working class and ordinary Ghanaians.
“We insisted that prohibition was unjust, economically irrational, and harmful to ordinary Ghanaians. Today proves that we were not wrong. The ghettos were not wrong. The Rasta man was not wrong. The system was,” the Fighters declared in a hard-hitting statement on Friday, February 20.
A manifesto for restorative justice
The Fighters are now pivoting from advocacy for legalisation to a demand for a “Justice Trigger.”
They argue that reform is incomplete if those who suffered under “outdated policies” remain behind bars or carry the stigma of a criminal record.
The Fighters’ Core Demands for Reform:
- Formal Review: A comprehensive audit of all past convictions involving minor cannabis offences.
- Amnesty: The immediate release of non-violent offenders currently serving time for possession.
- Record Expungement: Clearing the criminal histories of those convicted of simple possession and small-scale cultivation.
- Reparations for Farmers: Addressing the “senseless burning of farms” that impoverished rural families for decades.
The threat of ‘Elite Capture’
As Ghana moves toward a regulated cannabis market, the EFL has raised a red flag regarding who truly profits from the new “Green Gold”. The group warned that the industry must not be hijacked by the political and corporate elite, leaving traditional small-holder farmers on the fringes.
“The struggle, however, is not over. Legal access must not become elite capture. It must correct past injustices and prioritise small farmers and the working people,” the statement added.
The League’s position sets the stage for a new legislative battle: ensuring that the licensing framework for cannabis cultivation remains accessible to the very communities that bore the brunt of the “War on Drugs.”
As the Narcotics Control Commission rolls out its new guidelines, the Fighters have made it clear that they will remain on the frontlines to ensure the “Rasta man” and the “working people” are not left behind.
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Source: www.myjoyonline.com
