Supreme Court Petition Filed Over Cannabis Licensing Fees

A constitutional petition at Ghana's Supreme Court is challenging the cannabis licensing fee structure — potentially the first major legal test of the Cannabis Regulatory Programme.

The Petition

A Techiman-based farmer invokes Articles 17, 174, and 296 of Ghana's 1992 Constitution, arguing that high fees discriminate against smallholder farmers who cannot compete with well-funded foreign investors.

The Constitutional Arguments

Article 17 guarantees equality and freedom from discrimination. Articles 174 and 296 govern discretionary power by public bodies — the petition challenges NACOC's authority to set fees that exclude the majority of Ghanaian citizens from the new industry.

What This Means for Applicants

The petition does not suspend the licensing process. NACOC's portal at portal.ncc.gov.gh remains open. Monitor developments as a Supreme Court ruling could result in revised fee structures.