Techiman farmer sues government over industrial cannabis licensing regime
Mariam Alhassan, from Techiman, is asking the court to strike down key aspects of the regulatory framework governing industrial hemp cultivation, arguing that the system unfairly excludes local farmers.
The Supreme Court will soon hear a case that could reshape the country’s emerging cannabis industry, after a farmer filed a constitutional challenge against the current licensing regime.
Mariam Alhassan, from Techiman, is asking the court to strike down key aspects of the regulatory framework governing industrial hemp cultivation, arguing that the system unfairly excludes local farmers.
The case, filed on 27 February 2026, names the Ministry for the Interior, the Narcotics Control Commission, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, and the Attorney-General as defendants.
At the centre of the dispute is the cost and structure of licences required to operate in the sector.
The plaintiff argues that fees — reportedly reaching tens of thousands of US dollars per hectare — along with multiple regulatory requirements, make participation effectively inaccessible to ordinary Ghanaians.
Her legal team contends that the framework breaches constitutional provisions on fairness, equality and administrative justice.
They also argue that the charges function as indirect taxation, raising questions about whether they fall within Parliament’s exclusive authority to impose taxes.
The suit further challenges requirements such as specialised transport permits and security escorts, which the plaintiff says are disproportionate for industrial hemp, a low-THC crop used in manufacturing and medicine.
Lawyers for Ms Alhassan are asking the court to order a redesign of the regulatory system, including scaled fees, reduced compliance burdens and a more accessible structure for small-scale operators.
They are also seeking an interim order to suspend enforcement of the current regime while the case is being heard.
The filing highlights what it describes as a contradiction in policy: imported hemp-based products are allowed into Ghana through standard commercial channels, while domestic producers face strict controls typically associated with narcotics.
The case raises broader questions about economic inclusion and the role of regulation in emerging industries, particularly in sectors with significant commercial potential.
The Supreme Court is expected to examine whether the current framework strikes a fair balance between public safety and access to economic opportunity.
