Ghana: legalizing cannabis as a campaign ploy

Ghana will renew its president in 2020. And while the two main candidates have yet to announce their position on the subject, the outsider parties are making the legalization of cannabis, known as «wee», one of their campaign arguments.

Ghana is one of the biggest illegal producers of cannabis in Africa, mainly for export. The Ministry of Health can issue a personal license to produce, possess or consume cannabis, which is otherwise illegal.

Other African countries are already reforming their cannabis laws. L’South Africa recently legalized its personal use, while Le Lesotho and the Zimbabwe are moving towards the possibility of growing medical cannabis.

UPP wants to legalize to boost Ghana's economy

The United Progressive Party (UPP) wants to legalize cannabis in Ghana to boost its economy. The party's chairman, Kenneth Nana Kwame Asamoah, hopes that cannabis sales will generate substantial tax revenues.

«The benefits we will derive from this venture will greatly contribute to the transformation of the economy and the reduction of poverty among the population,» he said. declared during an interview on Ghanaian radio.

«Among other things, we're going to set up cannabis nurseries all over the country to create more jobs for unemployed young people and promote huge benefits for the Ghanaian economy,» he said.

He even believes that cannabis could bring in more money than cocoa, even though the country is the world's second-largest producer. The politician added, however, that the legalization of cannabis would come with strict rules to ensure that people don't abuse its use.

«The UPP is very committed to the well-being of this country. That's why we're looking for ways to transform this economy and improve the public's standard of living. At the same time, we want to make sure that some of the decisions we make don't have a negative impact on consumers. Therefore, the legalization of marijuana will come with rules. Smoking in public will always remain a crime,» he added.

LPG seeks new life in cannabis

Kofi Akpaloo, founder of the Liberal Party of Ghana (LPG), has expressed his intention to legalize and regulate the commercial production and export of cannabis should he win the 2020 elections.

Regardless of the psychological, mental, legal and health implications of its use, the party believes the plant's socio-economic value and health benefits are enormous to ignore its legalization. It added that the «indigenous African sacred herb» remained essential to breaking out of Ghana's economic quagmire.

«Ghana will earn more from the international cannabis trade than from cocoa, because a kilo of cannabis is worth $3,000, while a kilo of cocoa costs 20 $. An acre of cannabis farm will produce 100 bags, while the same acre will yield 10 bags of cocoa«, he said. declared.

Mr. Akpaloo declared his party to be the overwhelming favorite for the 2020 elections. His main opponent will be the previous President, who is renewing his candidacy against the current President, Nana Akufo-Addo.