Interior Minister Launches Medicinal Cannabis Licensing
The Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, has officially launched Ghana’s Medicinal Cannabis Programme, describing it as a historic milestone in the country’s evolving drug control and economic development framework.
Speaking at the launch in Accra on Thursday, February 26, 2026, the Minister said the rollout follows the passage of the Narcotics Control Commission Amendment Act, 2023 and the Narcotics Control Cultivation and Management of Cannabis Regulation, 2023. Together, the laws establish the legal and regulatory regime for the cultivation and management of cannabis strictly for industrial and medicinal purposes.
“Today’s event marks a significant milestone in Ghana’s commitment to responsible drug control, public health and safety and economic development,” he stated.
However, the Minister was emphatic that recreational cannabis use remains illegal under Section 45 of the Narcotics Control Commission Act, 2020.
A key feature of the newly launched regime is the introduction of an off-taker requirement for investors. Mr. Mohammed-Mubarak announced that applicants must secure confirmed buyers before being granted operational licences.
“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.
According to him, the requirement is designed to prevent diversion of cannabis into illegal markets and to safeguard public safety. The directive applies across the entire cannabis value chain, including cultivation, processing, transportation, import and export.
The Minister disclosed that operators must obtain one of 11 separate activity-specific and non-transferable licences depending on their area of operation. “You cannot cultivate and assume you can transport. You need another licence for that,” he explained.
He further revealed that Ghana currently lacks the specialised low-THC cannabis seeds required under the programme. As a result, seeds must be imported under licence. While government will not directly supply seeds, he described seed importation as a business opportunity and encouraged research institutions to develop local seed capacity over time.
To enforce compliance, the Interior Ministry, in collaboration with the Narcotics Control Commission and security agencies, will deploy surveillance mechanisms including GPS tracking, drone monitoring and unannounced inspections. Facilities must not be located within 100 metres of schools or residential areas, and operators are required to submit quarterly returns.
Mr. Mohammed-Mubarak cautioned that regulatory breaches could damage Ghana’s international standing, stressing that public safety remains paramount.
“Our emphasis is more on security and public safety than the money. If we do it right, the benefits will come,” he concluded.
