The Director of Public Affairs at the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC), Mr. Francis Opoku Amoah has condemned the employment of young basic school pupils on illegal marijuana plantations especially in the Volta region.
According to reports, some of these children are not only being exploited for cheap labour but are also using the cannabis they help grow, posing a major public health and legal crisis.
Speaking on Citi FM on Wednesday, Mr. Amoah called the development unlawful, condemning the involvement of young people in illegal activities, particularly drug cultivation.
He emphasized that Ghanaian law strictly prohibits child labour, and that recreational cannabis remains illegal under Act 1019, Sections 39 to 43 of the Narcotics Control Commission Act.
He clarified that only hemp with tetrahydrocannabinol levels under 0.3% is legal for cultivation—and only for medicinal or industrial use, not for recreational purposes.
He further revealed that, as of now, no licenses have been issued for hemp farming, as Parliament is yet to finalize the fees and charges regime, necessary to operationalize that part of the law.
“What we are waiting for as a commission now is what we call the fees and charges and once Parliament passes the fees and charges, anyone who is interested in cultivating the hemp which is a 0.3 percent can now apply.
He added saying “once you apply, you go through a lot of checks, there are certain things you need to meet before that licence can be granted to you to do that.”
He further assured the general public that the Narcotics Control Commission will work hard to address the menace of hard drugs.
According to him, Narcotics Control Commission is acting on intelligence to combat drug issues, especially cannabis, with actions already taken in the Central and Western regions.
The Director of Public Affairs at NACOC emphasized the Commission’s commitment to enforcing the law and ensuring people understand that cannabis is illegal.
Source: Afote Asomdwoe Laryea/ATLFMNEWS
