The Narcotics Control Commission (NCC) has officially opened applications for the cultivation and management of cannabis in Ghana following the launch of the national licensing regime.
The regime was launched on February 26, 2026, by the Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, marking a significant step toward regulating cannabis for industrial and medicinal purposes.
According to the NCC, the initiative forms part of the implementation of Section 43 of the Narcotics Control Commission Act, 2020 (Act 1019), as amended, as well as Legislative Instrument 2475.
The move is expected to harness the economic and health potential of cannabis while ensuring strict regulatory oversight.
The Commission explained that licences will only be issued for cannabis with a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis.
The programme is focused strictly on industrial and medicinal uses, including the production of fibre and seeds as well as the development of pharmaceutical and health-related products.
The NCC has made available eleven categories of licences for individuals and corporate entities interested in participating in the emerging cannabis industry.
These include cultivation, processing, breeding, research and development, laboratory and testing, storage, transportation, import, export, sales and distribution, as well as advertising and promotion.
The Commission indicated that the application process has been digitised to make it easier and more accessible to applicants.
Interested persons are required to submit their applications through the Commission’s official website, complete the necessary forms and upload relevant documentation.
Applicants will also be required to pay a non-refundable application fee using Visa card, Mobile Money or through payment vouchers obtainable from designated banks.
The Acting Director of Public Affairs and International Relations of the NCC, Francis Opoku Amoah in a statement, said the Commission is committed to building a transparent and accountable cannabis industry in Ghana.
He noted that the regulatory framework is designed to safeguard public health and safety while promoting lawful innovation and supporting the country’s industrial development.
