Rastafarian advocates in Ghana’s Central Region are urging the government to ease the marijuana licensing system and end what they describe as persistent harassment of users.
The appeal was made by the Central Regional President of the Rastafarian Council, Jah Eddy Bongo, during celebrations marking World Marijuana Day at Mankessim-Baifikrom in the Mfantsiman Municipality.
Addressing participants, Mr. Bongo called on the government and security agencies to halt the arrest and search of individuals found with marijuana, and to repeal laws that criminalize its use and possession.
“We are not enemies of the Ghanaian economy. Every economy needs weed to grow,” he stated, emphasizing the potential economic benefits of legalization.
According to the group, lessening restrictions on marijuana could boost the economy through regulated cultivation, create employment opportunities for the youth, and provide a new source of national revenue.
They further called on President John Dramani Mahama to consider policy reforms that would allow for the regulated use and cultivation of marijuana, while also granting amnesty to individuals currently in custody for marijuana-related offenses.
Central Regional Organizer of the Rastafarian Council, Jah Emma, also cautioned the youth, particularly those in inner-city communities, against the use of harmful substances. He warned that adulterated marijuana and drugs such as tramadol, cocaine, and synthetic variants pose serious risks, including mental health challenges and destructive behavior.
Mr. Emma urged parents to reconsider widely held beliefs linking marijuana use to mental illness, arguing instead for education and responsible use.
Rastafarian groups and some residents in Mankessim-Baifikrom are therefore calling for broader reforms, including easing the licensing system, protecting their religious freedoms, and ending what they describe as unjust treatment by law enforcement.
On July 12, 2023, Ghana officially legalized the cultivation of cannabis, but only for industrial and medicinal use, not for recreational purposes. This initiative permits the cultivation of low-THC cannabis (maximum of 0.3% THC) under strict licensing, controlled by the Narcotics Control Commission.
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