Marrakech – Ghana’s Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) recently held discussions with Morocco’s ambassador to Accra, Imane Quaadil, to explore Morocco’s cannabis regulatory framework. The aim of the meeting was to fast-track Ghana’s own medical and industrial cannabis licensing program.
The Ghanaian delegation, led by Director General Maxwell Obuba Mantey, showed keen interest in various aspects of Morocco’s cannabis system, including license design, production chain control, cooperative organization, and variety certification.
Ambassador Quaadil offered technical cooperation and confirmed plans for Ghanaian officials to visit Morocco in September for observation and training. She highlighted Morocco’s commitment to sharing its expertise to enhance the capacity of drug control agencies across Africa.
In 2023, Ghana updated its legal framework to allow licensing for low-THC cannabis cultivation, specifically for industrial and medical purposes. The responsibility for issuing licenses lies with the Ministry of the Interior, while the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) oversees operational implementation and control.
Ghanaian authorities have set guidelines to regulate the production chain, ensure product quality, and prevent diversion to the recreational market, which remains illegal.
For Ghanaian officials, the challenge is twofold: creating formal economic opportunities for farmers currently relying on informal circuits, and establishing health and traceability systems for patients and industries.
In 2021, Morocco passed Law 13-21, legalizing cannabis cultivation for medical, pharmaceutical, and industrial uses, while keeping the ban on recreational use. The country established the National Agency for the Regulation of Cannabis Activities (ANRAC) and has made strides in licensing, completing its first legal harvest, and expanding controlled cultivation areas.
The partnership between Rabat and Accra could offer Ghana valuable tools for regulating, tracking, and governing its agricultural sector as it develops its own legal cannabis industry.