No need to decriminalise suicide – Deputy Speaker

The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Joseph Osei-Owusu, has rubbished calls for the decriminalisation of attempted suicide amidst demands for same from some MPs.

In a statement on the Floor, ranking member for the Health Committee and MP for Juaboso, Kwabena Minta Akandor, demanded amendment of the country’s laws to decriminalise attempted suicide.

But the Bekwai MP argued that nobody has even been prosecuted in the country for attempting to commit suicide. This according to him, renders the demands needless

But MP for Wa West Joseph Yileh Chireh nonetheless argued that decriminalisation of suicide is the way to go.

Contributing to the debate on the Floor, Minority Leader Haruna Iddrisu, however, stated that the status quo must remain to deter people from even contemplating suicide.

“I disagree with the maker of the statement that we should decriminalise it, unacceptable behaviour must be punished and deterred, you don’t want a society where you encourage young children that if they have a problem they can kill themselves, which society develops that way.

“We should find out as a country what is that is responsible for the recently reported cases of increase in suicide or what is it attributable to, then we can as a country deal with it…So, Mr Speaker, I commend that maker of the statement but I disagree that we must decriminalise it.”