Lawmaker Calls for Budgetary Support for Drugs Court Establishment

Grand Bassa County Electoral District #5 Representative Thomas Alexander Goshua has promised to do everything in his power to lobby with his colleagues to make sure funding for the establishment of the Drugs Court goes through the national budget.

Rep. Goshua disclosed that his passion to lobby for funding for the court is that drugs are becoming a serious “threat to national security, and our future generations”.

The Grand Bassa County lawmaker noted that the court is supposed to be a fast-track one to provide a speedy trial for those accused of violation of the drugs law if it meets the overwhelming backing of the House of Senate.

“Those found guilty will go to jail for 20 years and above,” Goshua said. "I strongly believe that the Drug Court is the last alternative to address the issue of the influx of drugs in the country."

“We can all agree that we cannot arrest the proliferation of drug related offenses that we experience and now face in the country, in the absence of a specialized court that will prosecute, arrest and incarcerate those judged guilty,” Goshua maintained. “This will breathe new life into the country’s judicial system and will be an efficient way to faster delivery of justice, and to eliminate delays in drug related litigations.”

According to Goshua, the special drug court will provide for a case to be processed and tried, and a judgement delivered within a shorter period of time.

“This is one of the main ways to minimize drug-related offenses in the country, only if the government is interested in supporting the establishment of the court,” Goshua indicated.

He also believes that tougher legal measures like the Drug Court need to be in place and with funding from the national government, stressing: “If we want to protect the future generations and to punish those trafficking drugs into our country, then we must all advocate for the court.” Goshua’s stance for the funding of the Drug Court comes days after members of the House of Representatives unanimously passed the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act of 2014.

It has been transmitted to the Senate and, if approved, will go to President George Weah for signing.The bill was reintroduced by  Rep. Goshua, after it was introduced by then Rep. George Mulbah of Bong County, but did not meet the unanimous decision of the House of Representatives at that time.

But, Rep. Goshua said the Mulbah’s bill then had lots of loopholes, especially in the first against drugs and substances in the country.

“The current drug law of 2014 has  a loophole in the fight against drugs and substances in our country. And this is the defect or statutory infirmity that the amendment seeks to address, and to give the law teeth to bite,” Goshua noted.

Meanwhile, he used the occasion to call on all well-meaning citizens to join his advocacy and to educate people about the danger associated with drug abuse. According to Rep. Goshua, he will also lobby for funding for the construction of a rehabilitation center for drug users, that would help to reintegrate them back to society to be better people. “I am going to lobby with my colleagues for budgetary support to empower the relevant institutions responsible to fight drugs in the country.”