The Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, has officially launched Ghana’s Medicinal Cannabis Programme, describing it as a major milestone in the country’s drug control and economic development agenda.
Speaking at the launch in Accra on Thursday, February 26, 2026, the Minister said the initiative follows the passage of the Narcotics Control Commission Amendment Act, 2023, and the Narcotics Control Cultivation and Management of Cannabis Regulations, 2023, which establish a legal framework for cannabis cultivation strictly for industrial and medicinal purposes.
He emphasised that recreational cannabis use remains illegal under existing law.
A key feature of the programme is a new licensing requirement mandating investors to secure confirmed buyers before receiving approval to operate.
“We won’t give you the licence if you don’t show us who you are going to sell it to. You need to have an off-taker,” he said, explaining that the measure is intended to prevent diversion into the illegal market.
The Minister disclosed that operators across the cannabis value chain will require separate licences for activities such as cultivation, processing, transport, import and export, with each licence being activity-specific and non-transferable.
He also noted that Ghana currently lacks specialised low-THC cannabis seeds required for the programme, meaning seeds must initially be imported under licence, creating opportunities for private investors and research institutions.
To ensure compliance, the government will deploy surveillance systems including GPS tracking, drone monitoring and unannounced inspections, with support from agencies such as the Police, Immigration Service, Prisons Service and the National Investigations Bureau.
Licensed facilities must be located at least 100 metres away from schools and residential areas, and operators will be required to submit quarterly reports.
Mr Mohammed-Mubarak warned that regulatory breaches could damage Ghana’s international reputation but stressed that public safety remains the government’s top priority, even as the country seeks to unlock the sector’s economic potential.
