Ghana’s emerging legal cannabis industry could generate at least $1 billion annually and rival traditional export earners if fully implemented, according to the head of the Chamber of Cannabis Industry, as regulators move to operationalize the framework nearly three years after legalization.
The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) said in a February 11, 2026 statement that it will begin issuing licences for the cultivation of medicinal and industrial cannabis. The announcement, however, did not disclose the fees associated with the permits, leaving investors without clarity on the cost of entry into what is being positioned as a high-value sector.
Parliament in 2023 legalized cannabis for medicinal and industrial purposes, subject to a tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, ceiling of 0.3%. Recreational use remains illegal. THC is the psychoactive compound responsible for the intoxicating effect associated with cannabis.
Under the framework, cannabis exceeding the 0.3% THC threshold remains prohibited. Dr. Mark Darko, President and Chief Executive of the Chamber of Cannabis Industry, noted that cannabis grown for recreational use in the illicit market can contain THC levels ranging between 20% and 30%.
“The law said that it is not legal for recreational use,” he said. “Use cannabis only for medicine and also for industrial applications, but the THC in it should not be more than 0.3%.”
Darko argues that Ghana’s agro-climatic conditions give it a structural advantage in cultivation.
“Ghana has one of best, when it comes to quality, good quality cannabis, by way of THC, Ghana has one of the highest,” he said, attributing this to favorable weather and experienced growers.
Licensing Bottleneck Eases, Questions Remain
Despite passage of the law and its accompanying legislative instrument, no licences had been issued prior to NACOC’s latest announcement.
“So far, no license has been issued in Ghana,” Darko said, referring to the period before the regulator’s February statement.
He attributed earlier delays partly to disagreements over proposed licensing fees, which he described as “extremely unacceptable” at initial stages, with some running into “tens of thousands” of dollars for a single permit such as cultivation.
The regulatory architecture provides for 11 licence categories, including cultivation, breeding, research and development, export, and sales and distribution. NACOC is responsible for approvals and enforcement.
Darko said the Chamber was established immediately after the law’s passage to support implementation and serve as an intermediary between industry and regulators.
“The chamber came immediately, the bill was passed in Parliament legalising cannabis for medicinal uses and also for industrial use,” he said. “We want to be a centre of excellence.”
Investor Interest Builds
Even before licences were formally opened, investor appetite had been building. Within six months of the Chamber’s formation in July 2023, it had received more than 1,000 inquiries, according to Darko, with over 60% originating from foreign investors, mainly from the United States and Canada.
North American firms have shown particular interest in cultivation, drawn by Ghana’s year-round sunlight and lower production costs compared with colder climates that require greenhouse infrastructure.
“In Ghana, we have the sun 12 months in a year,” Darko said, describing the environment as “cannabis-friendly weather.”
Domestic interest has been driven largely by so-called “legacy growers”, participants in the black market seeking to transition into the regulated space. The legalization framework, he said, is partly intended to formalize that segment and channel revenues into the formal economy.
“Oftentimes you hear that the Narcotics Control Commission has arrested one or two people, they’ve burned their cannabis farms,” he said. “If we are able to do it properly in a legal way, all these monies will be retained.”
Competing with Cocoa and Gold
Darko projects that the sector could generate at least $1 billion annually at inception. By comparison, Ghana earned about $1.7 billion from cocoa exports last year and roughly $5 billion from gold, he said.
“We are looking at $1 billion USD to start with,” he said. “What we’ll make from cannabis will exceed what plants like cocoa have been giving us for many years.”
He cited industrial applications including textiles, paper, biofuels, cosmetics and construction materials such as hempcrete, alongside pharmaceutical uses supported, he said, by scientific evidence.
“From anti-oxidants, to anti-inflammation, to anti-seizures,” he said. “There are so many applications.”
Managing Public Concerns
The commercialization push has faced skepticism from segments of the public and the medical community concerned about mental health risks and potential abuse.
Darko maintains that a tightly regulated regime is preferable to outright prohibition.
“The legal cannabis industry is a controlled and a well-regulated, a highly regulated space,” he said. “Not every Tom, Dick, and Harry will be able to enter the industry.”
He rejected suggestions that legalization for medical and industrial use would spur recreational consumption, pointing to jurisdictions that have developed regulated markets.
“Everybody is doing this successfully everywhere,” he said.
With NACOC set to begin issuing licences but fees still undisclosed, the next phase of Ghana’s cannabis rollout will test whether regulatory clarity can translate into capital deployment in what advocates describe as one of the country’s most promising new export frontiers.
