Ghana has officially introduced a new cannabis regulation programme that sets out clear rules for growing and managing low-THC cannabis meant solely for medical and industrial purposes.
The announcement came in Accra, where Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak unveiled the initiative.
The programme follows the passage of the Narcotics Control Commission (Amendment) Act, 2023 and the Narcotics Control Commission (Cultivation and Management of Cannabis) Regulations, 2023, which together provide the legal foundation for the country’s cannabis framework. 
Through the new policy, the government aims to organise the emerging cannabis sector while protecting public health and maintaining national security. Officials also see the initiative as an economic opportunity. By opening a regulated industry, authorities hope to attract investors, create employment especially in rural communities and boost government revenue.
As part of its planning, Ghana has looked at international examples. Officials pointed to Canada, where the legal cannabis market generated nearly 895 million Canadian dollars (about $655 million) during the 2022–2023 period.
The licensing system under the new framework comes with strict conditions. Only Ghanaian citizens or permanent residents aged 18 and above can apply. Companies seeking licences must also ensure that at least half of their ownership belongs to Ghanaians and that the majority of their board members are Ghanaian.
African Countries Where Weed is Legal
1. South Africa: Currently leads the continent in reform. It is legal to cultivate and use cannabis in private, though the commercial sale of recreational cannabis remains tightly restricted.
2. Morocco: A major producer now focusing on controlled industrial and medicinal use.
3. Lesotho: One of the first to authorise large-scale medical cultivation of cannabis for export.
4. Zimbabwe: Actively gives licences for medicinal and industrial hemp production but prohibits recreational use.
About The Author
Keep Up to Date with the Most Important News
