The Minority leader in Parliament and MP for Tamale South Haruna Iddrisu has stated that matters relating to suicide should be taken into consideration because it a crime in our Ghanaian system.
According to him, matters relating to suicide should not be left hanging. Because suicide is an unacceptable behavior in our society.
Any Individual caught in that situation should be penalize to deter others.
“You don’t expect depression and distress you encounter should result in you taking your own life if you cannot recover from it” he said
Speaking on the Floor during a conversation on whether to decriminalize the act or not, he stated that he doesn’t share in the opinion.
Honourable Haruna Iddrisu stated emphatically that he doesn’t share in the opinion to decriminalize suicide. He said the only act which should be pardoned is altruistic act of suicide.
Mr. Haruna revealed that suicide come as a result of mental disorders, financial crisis, parental neglect, drug abuse and many more.
According to him, individual who have attempted suicide should be assisted rather than treating them as criminals.
To the Minority leader criminalizing the act will empower individual who have suicidal thought to continue.
The Minority leader further called for a concerted effort between parliamentarians, Center for suicide and violence research, University of Ghana, Mental Health Authority and the Health Well-being International to take steps to withdraw the act.
Meanwhile, a Ranking Member of the health Committee and MP for Juaboso has called for the withdrawal of section 57 of the criminal offense Act, 1960(Act 29) that speaks on criminalizing attempted suicide.
