Dr Mark Darko, Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber of Cannabis Industry Ghana, has said the emergence of Ghana’s regulated cannabis sector presents a major opportunity for the Volta Region to diversify its agricultural base and attract new agro-industrial investments.
Speaking at the 2025 Volta Investment Summit in Ho, Dr Darko said the amendments to the Narcotics Control Commission Act, supported by the Narcotics Control Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2023, had opened a lawful pathway for the cultivation and processing of industrial hemp, creating space for new value-chain enterprises.
He said the law, which permits licensed production of cannabis with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) levels not exceeding 0.3 per cent, had positioned Ghana to participate in a fast-growing 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, noting that the region’s favourable agro-ecological conditions made it ideal for industrial hemp cultivation.
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Dr Darko said clarity on licensing, compliance and legal safeguards was essential for farmers and investors to operate within the regulated environment.
The session, facilitated by the Chamber and the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), outlined the licensing process, quality-assurance standards and partnership models for potential investors.
Dr Darko said the establishment of a transparent regulatory framework, guided by Legislative Instrument 2475, would ensure Ghana met international standards and prevented illegal diversion of cannabis while promoting local participation.
He said the Volta Region could attract investment in seed genetics, precision agriculture, fibre processing, hemp-based construction materials and medicinal extraction.
The summit highlighted the potential for collaboration with the Ghana Standards Authority to certify Volta-produced hemp products for export to markets with strict THC-level and quality requirements.
The Volta Investment Summit is an annual platform convened to promote investment opportunities in agriculture, industry, tourism and green-economy sectors in the region. It brings together policymakers, private-sector actors and development partners to explore emerging markets and raise investor interest in Volta-based enterprises.
Cannabis, popularly known as marijuana, is a herbal medication derived from plants of the Cannabis species and used globally to treat a range of conditions, including cancer-related symptoms, chronic pain and some mental-health disorders.
According to Allied Market Research, the global cannabis market was valued at US$25.7 billion in 2021 and is projected to reach US$148.9 billion by 2031.
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