Ghana's Interior Minister, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, has launched the country's Medicinal Cannabis Programme, a move aimed at boosting economic development while ensuring public safety.

The programme allows for the cultivation and management of cannabis for industrial and medicinal purposes only.

To prevent misuse, the government has introduced an off-taker requirement, meaning investors need to secure buyers before getting operational licences.

"You need to have an off-taker," the minister stressed.

"The programme comes with 11 separate licences for activities like cultivation, processing, and transportation, each non-transferable."

"Ghana also doesn't produce specialised low-THC cannabis seeds yet, so they'll be imported under licence."

Mr Mohammed-Mubarak emphasised, "The government prioritises public safety over revenue, warning that regulatory breaches could harm Ghana's international standing."

The off-taker requirement is expected to limit participation in the industry to serious investors who are ready for production and sale.