The Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber of Cannabis Industry Ghana, Dr Mark Darko, says the Volta Region should take advantage of Ghana’s emerging regulated cannabis sector to diversify its agricultural base and attract new agro-industrial investments.
Speaking at the 2025 Volta Investment Summit in Ho, Dr Darko said recent amendments to the Narcotics Control Commission Act, through the Narcotics Control Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2023, have created a lawful pathway for cultivating and processing industrial hemp in Ghana.
The revised law permits licensed production of cannabis with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) levels not exceeding 0.3 percent, positioning the country to participate in a rapidly expanding global market.
“This is a unique opportunity for the Volta Region to diversify its agricultural base, create new jobs and attract significant agro-industrial investment,” he said, emphasising that the region’s favourable agro-ecological conditions make it well suited for industrial hemp production.
Dr Darko stressed the need for clarity on licensing, compliance and legal safeguards to guide both farmers and investors operating in the regulated environment.
A session facilitated by the Chamber and the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) outlined key aspects of the licensing process, quality-assurance requirements, and partnership models available to prospective investors.
He added that Legislative Instrument 2475 provides the transparent regulatory framework needed to meet international standards, prevent illicit diversion, and ensure strong local participation.
Dr Darko noted that the Volta Region could attract investments in areas such as seed genetics, precision agriculture, fibre processing, hemp-based construction materials and medicinal extraction.
The Summit also highlighted the potential for collaboration with the Ghana Standards Authority to certify hemp products produced in the Volta Region for export to markets with strict THC and quality specifications.
The Volta Investment Summit is held annually to promote investment opportunities in agriculture, industry, tourism and the green economy.
It brings together policymakers, private-sector actors and development partners to explore new markets and stimulate investor interest in enterprises across the region.
Cannabis, commonly known as marijuana, is derived from plants of the Cannabis species and is used globally to treat conditions such as chronic pain, cancer-related symptoms and certain mental-health disorders.
Allied Market Research estimates that the global cannabis market, valued at US$25.7 billion in 2021, could surge to US$148.9 billion by 2031.
