The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) has issued its first licence for the cultivation of cannabis for medicinal and industrial purposes, marking the formal start of a new regulated industry in Ghana. The two companies awarded licences, MJ Adom Limited and Juliopta Limited, will be permitted to grow cannabis with a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content of not more than 0.3 per cent, in line with the country’s regulatory framework.
The move is expected to open up new opportunities for job creation, investment and research, while keeping cultivation under close regulatory supervision.
Both companies received their licences after meeting the requirements set by the regulator, following what NACOC described as a deliberately rigorous vetting process. Speaking at the presentation ceremony, the Director-General of NACOC, Major General Maxwell Obuba Mantey, said applicants had been put through detailed technical assessments, field inspections, and review by a multi-agency technical committee, with successful applications forwarded to the Minister for the Interior for final approval.
He was emphatic that cannabis cultivation remains illegal in Ghana outside of a valid licence and the approved THC threshold.
“Only licensed cultivation of cannabis with a THC content of not more than 0.3 per cent is legal. Recreational cannabis remains illegal, and anyone who cultivates without a licence faces the full force of the law,” he said.
Major General Mantey described the programme as a pilot initiative, allowing the country to explore the medicinal and industrial value of cannabis while maintaining strict safeguards against abuse. He cautioned the newly licensed companies against exceeding their approved land size or operating outside the terms of their licences, warning that breaches would attract swift sanctions.
“If you comply with the regulations, the opportunities are significant. If you abuse the system, we will revoke the licence and enforce the law,” he said.
He added that NACOC officers would carry out both announced and unannounced inspections of licensed farms, and that any crop found to exceed the approved THC limit must be reported to the commission immediately for appropriate disposal.
The founder of Juliopta Limited, Juliana Addo-Yobo, described the licence as the start of a new business venture for the company, which intends to begin with cultivation before expanding into the import and export of cannabis seeds to support the wider industry.
“The licensing process is demanding and expensive, but we meet all the requirements. We are now focused on building a business that serves both local and international markets,” she said, adding that the company would strictly observe all conditions attached to its licence, including restrictions on land size and permitted activities.
An agronomist at MJ Adom Limited, Michael Akuamoah Boateng, said the company’s collaboration with the Centre for Plant Medicine Research would support research into medicinal cannabis and the development of products derived from locally grown plants. He said the emerging industry held significant potential for job creation, research and foreign exchange earnings.
“This industry creates jobs, supports research and brings export earnings. We are ready to begin cultivation and contribute to the growth of the economy,” he said.
Both licences are valid for three years, subject to continued compliance with regulatory conditions and renewal by NACOC.
