Ghana begins licensing cannabis cultivation for industrial and medical use
Ghana’s Narcotics Control Commission (NCC) has opened applications for licences to cultivate and manage cannabis for industrial and medicinal purposes, as the country moves to build a regulated cannabis industry.
In a statement issued on March 11, the Commission said the licensing process follows the launch of the national regime on February 26, 2026, by the Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak. It said the programme is being implemented under Section 43 of the Narcotics Control Commission Act, 2020 (Act 1019), as amended, and Legislative Instrument 2475.
The NCC stressed that licences are only for cannabis with a THC content of not more than 0.3% on a dry weight basis.
The Commission said the regime covers two main areas; industrial production, including fibre and seeds for manufacturing and medicinal use, aimed at supporting pharmaceutical and health-related products.
Applicants, including individuals and companies, can apply under 11 licensing categories, such as cultivation, processing, breeding, research and development, laboratory testing, storage, transportation, import and export, sales and distribution, and advertising and promotion.
To streamline applications, the NCC has introduced an online application system through its website. Applicants must complete a digital form, upload required documents and pay a non-refundable application fee, the Commission said.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
