Ghana agencies partner to research medicinal and industrial hemp

The Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in Ghana have entered a partnership to research and develop the cultivation of low-THC cannabis, specifically hemp with a tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content of no more than 0.3%.

The collaboration aims to explore medicinal and industrial applications for hemp. Dr. Francis Boateng Agyenim, director of the CSIR-Institute of Industrial Research, noted that hemp fiber could be used for products such as sanitary goods and alternative plastic packaging. The partnership will involve establishing model greenhouse farms, conducting soil tests to identify suitable growing areas, and assessing planting materials.

To ensure regulatory compliance and prevent diversion to illegal markets, NACOC Director-General Major General Maxwell Obuba Mantey stated the commission will oversee the entire value chain. This oversight includes seed selection, cultivation, processing, and end-use, supported by strengthened testing and traceability systems.