Some Members of Parliament (MPs) are calling for the decriminalisation of attempted suicide in the country.
According to some MPs in Ghana’s parliament, suicide should be considered as a psychological problem and not criminal.
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Raising concerns over the matter on the floor of Parliament, MP for Builsa South, Dr Clement Apaak, who read a statement on behalf of the Juaboso MP, said criminalising suicide cannot constitute an effective tool.
“I want to die is an appeal for help in a state of desperation and helplessness. We must make our system friendly for suicidal persons and offer them help instead of jail terms,” he urged.
MP for Adaklu, Kwame Agbodza, supported the call for decriminalisation of the offence.
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However, the first Deputy Speaker, Joe Osei Owusu said though attempted suicide is illegal, no judge has prosecuted a victim of attempted suicide and called on the government to provide the needed resources to the mental authority and psychiatric nurses in the country.
Statistics available indicate that a total of 1,500 cases are reported annually in Ghana.
Source: Adomonline.com