Cannabis industry urged to focus on regulation and long-term gains in 2026
The Chamber of Cannabis Industry Ghana has urged authorities to adopt a measured and well-coordinated approach to the rollout of Ghana’s medicinal and industrial cannabis policy in 2026, stressing the need to balance economic gains with the protection of the public interest.
According to the Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber, Dr Mark Darko, the year ahead should signal a shift from policy formulation to concrete and effective implementation following the legal approval of cannabis for medicinal and industrial purposes.
“This is a year that calls not for speculation, but for clarity of purpose, institutional readiness and strategic patience,” he said in a New Year message addressed to stakeholders within the developing cannabis sector.
Dr Darko acknowledged that industry operators were still waiting for the final determination of fees, charges and operational guidelines. However, he noted that important groundwork had been ongoing behind the scenes, including progress in standard-setting, capacity building, and growing engagement at both local and international levels.
“These are the often unseen but essential building blocks of a credible and sustainable industry,” he said.
He indicated that, if properly regulated, the cannabis industry could support pharmaceutical research and production, supply raw materials for industrial applications, earn export revenue and create skilled jobs, especially for the youth and women.
Dr Darko advised entrepreneurs, investors, farmers and researchers to prioritise regulatory compliance, skills development and adherence to global best practices, rather than pursuing immediate commercial returns.
“The jurisdictions that succeed in cannabis are those that build deliberately, guided by data, standards and long-term national interest,” he added.
He further reaffirmed the Chamber’s dedication to advocacy, capacity development and stakeholder coordination, emphasising that strong collaboration among government institutions, regulators, industry participants and civil society was essential to positioning Ghana as a responsible player in the global cannabis value chain.
Ghana revised its narcotics laws in 2020 to permit the cultivation of cannabis with low tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content for medicinal and industrial purposes. The Chamber has consistently argued that cannabis-based innovations could contribute meaningfully to Ghana’s wider economic transformation, provided the policy is implemented within a strong and effective regulatory framework.
Source: GNA
