The Minister for the Interior, Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, has disclosed that eight companies have reached the final stage of the approval process to begin the legal cultivation of cannabis in Ghana under the country’s regulated framework.
Speaking on the implementation of Ghana’s cannabis cultivation law, Mr Muntaka said the online application process is currently active, with the first batch of successful applicants awaiting his final approval.
“The people have applied. At least eight people have gotten to the finish line and it’s coming to me for approval. At least eight companies have been able to get to the finish line so they can start their legitimate cultivation with all the necessary measures put in place,” he said.
The Minister stressed that the cultivation would be carried out under strict regulatory conditions to ensure compliance with the law and safeguard public safety.
He, however, dismissed calls for an immediate review of the legal framework, arguing that it is too early to assess its effectiveness since implementation began less than a year ago.
“People are talking about review. I said that look, it’s too early. You just started the implementation less than one year ago and people are talking about review. Let’s start the implementation. Let’s go up to maybe a year, then let’s see the real challenges that emerge. Then we can use that for review,” he stated.
Mr Muntaka said government remains open to amending the law if practical challenges emerge after a reasonable period of implementation.
He also expressed hope that the regulated cannabis industry would eventually provide an opportunity to integrate individuals currently engaged in illegal cultivation into a lawful and economically beneficial system.
“We hope that we can make it an industry that can even take care of those who are illegally doing the cultivation, so that it becomes much better regulated,” he noted.
The Interior Minister assured that government would continue to streamline the licensing process while maintaining strict oversight to ensure public safety and compliance with the country’s narcotics laws.
The legal cultivation of cannabis in Ghana is permitted for industrial and medicinal purposes under a regulated licensing regime overseen by the Narcotics Control Commission.
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