Let’s process cannabis and not to export the raw produce – Economist to Govt
A senior Economic Lecturer at the Kumasi technical University Dr Benjamin Dankwah has advised government to plant industries for the processing of cannabis as the country prepares to go commercial in cultivating it.
He noted that, for the long time the country exported cocoa to the western world it did not benefit the people as expected.
To him, processing the cannabis to new products like cream among others will increase the employment rate, while the foreign exchange rate of the country in the trade of cannabis will as well increase.
Speaking to Angel News in interview, Dr. Dr Benjamin Dankwah said “exporting the produce in the raw state means that we won’t get enough money. It also means that, the number of employment it is expected to create will reduce; the quantity of export will reduce.”
“We must also take note that a processed product is second to none when exported than the ones that are sold in their raw state. When processed we will get the best out of it”, he adds.
Parliament passes NACOC bill
Parliament of Ghana has passed the Narcotics Control Commission Amendment Bill 2023, bringing significant changes to the cultivation of cannabis for industrial and medicinal purposes.
With the passage of the Narcotics Control Commission Amendment Bill 2023, the Ministry of Interior will now have the responsibility of issuing licenses for cannabis cultivation, facilitating the growth of this industry and opening avenues for further exploration of its potential.
This development comes after the Supreme Court invalidated provisions within the Narcotic Control Commission Act that permitted the cultivation of specific types of cannabis for medicinal and industrial purposes.
The court contended that these provisions contravened Article 106 of the 1992 Constitution. Despite an appeal filed by the Office of the Attorney-General, the Supreme Court dismissed the review application in a narrow 5-4 decision.
