Rastafarians involve in weed smoking- Joe Wise

The First Deputy Speaker of Parliament Mr. Joseph Osei Wusu is popularly known as Joe Wise has stated on the floor of parliament that, Rastafarians mostly involved in the smoking of marijuana popularly called "weed".

He made the statement during his contribution on a statement made by the MP for North Tongu Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa on the plight of two Rastafarian students denied admission into Achimota school.

The former deputy minister for education, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa had made a statement on the floor of parliament that, the denial of admission to a dreadlock student to the Achimota school to him seems to be a conflict between fundamental human rights and what defines the notion of discipline in schools.

According to Okudzeto Ablakwa, Article 17 (2) of the 1992 Constitution is unambiguous: “A person shall not be discriminated against on grounds of gender, race, colour, ethnic origin, religion, creed or social or economic status.

He further explained that Article 21 (1) (C) further provides: “All persons shall have the right to freedom to practice any religion and to manifest such practice.

Mr. Okudzeto addressing the house, he notes, Article 28 (4) is emphatic: “No child shall be deprived by any other person of medical treatment, education or any other social or economic benefit by reason only of religious or other beliefs.”

But Mr. Joseph Osei Wusu on the other hand stressed that the issue will be complicated for the boy who was denied admission if the matter is twisted to religious lines.

According to him, he does not agree with those who said the student has been denied his fundamental human right.

He said, the young man has been offered admission haven obtained the necessary grade but the only thing is that the school has rules and regulations which one has to abide by. 

Meanwhile, the member of parliament for Kwasimintim, Mr. Prince Arma Hamidu argued that, if the school admitted the student on grounds of religious grounds, in the next admission, other students will come with unapproved uniforms and defend that, it's their religious belief.

 Responding to the issues raised, the Minister for Education Mr. Yaw Osei AduTwum has assured the house that, the ministry will soon come out with guidelines on how to handle matters of the sort.