The Ghanaian government has opened applications for licences allowing citizens to cultivate and manage cannabis for industrial and medicinal purposes.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Narcotics Control Commission (NCC) said the move followed the formal launch of Ghana’s national cannabis licensing regime on 26 February by the Interior Minister, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak.
According to the Commission, the framework gives effect to Section 43 of the Narcotics Control Commission Act, 2020 (Act 1019), as amended, and is intended to balance economic opportunity with strict regulatory oversight.
The NCC stressed that the regime applies only to cannabis with a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content of no more than 0.3 per cent on a dry weight basis, aligning the programme with international standards for industrial hemp and medicinal cannabis.
Under the policy, cultivation will be restricted to clearly defined uses, including industrial production which will focus on fibre and seed development, while medicinal cultivation will support pharmaceutical manufacturing and other health-related products.
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The Commission said prospective participants, including individuals and corporate bodies, may apply across eleven licensing categories covering the full value chain.
The included licensing categories were cultivation, processing, breeding, research and development, laboratory testing, storage, transportation, as well as import and export activities.
Officials maintained that the licensing framework is designed to ensure rigorous supervision of the sector while positioning Ghana to participate in the expanding global market for industrial hemp and medicinal cannabis.
The NCC added that the initiative is expected to stimulate economic growth, encourage scientific research and strengthen the country’s pharmaceutical industry within a tightly controlled regulatory environment.