Ghana’s cannabis industry is being positioned as a potential billion-dollar contributor to the economy, but industry leaders warn that the country must prioritize value addition over raw exports if it is to capture sustainable returns.
Speaking during the maiden edition of The High Street Talks, Dr. Mark Darko, Dr. Mark Darko, Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber of Cannabis Industry Ghana and member of the government’s cannabis regulatory committee, underscored the economic potential of processing cannabis into concentrates, tinctures, and pharmaceutical derivatives. “The real value is in the value addition,” he said, noting that cannabinoid extracts command premium prices on international markets compared to raw cannabis.
Dr.Darko acknowledged concerns over Ghana’s globally high cannabis licensing fees, which is feared could exclude smallholder farmers. He argued that regulation is essential to transition “legacy growers” from the illegal market into the legal framework, while encouraging farmers to form cooperatives to share costs. “What you cannot regulate, you cannot control,” he said, adding that advocacy efforts could eventually push policymakers toward more affordable licensing regimes.
He further identified Europe, North America, and China as immediate export markets for both medical cannabis and industrial hemp. Ghana’s year-round cultivation capacity, enabled by favorable climate conditions, positions the country competitively against regions with seasonal constraints. “From the shores of Ghana to the north, everywhere you put this cannabis plant, it grows very well,” Dr. Darko noted.
While cultivation remains the foundation, Dr. Darko stressed that processing licenses and infrastructure will drive long-term profitability. He cited international partners preparing to establish processing facilities once licensing fees are finalized, with Ghanaian equity participation capped at a minimum of 50% under current law. Training partnerships, including a recent MOU with Vermont State University in the U.S., are expected to build local expertise through cannabis industry certification programs.
Parliament, he noted, is expected to release licensing fees within the first quarter, a move that could unlock investment flows. He urged entrepreneurs to prepare now: “Be license ready so that when the fees come and the LI is published, you’ll be one of the early birds.”
The Chamber head projects that Ghana could generate not less than $1 billion annually from cannabis if value addition is prioritized. With global policy shifts favoring regulated cannabis markets, Ghana’s challenge lies in balancing regulation, farmer inclusion, and infrastructure development to ensure the industry becomes a sustainable driver of GDP growth.
