Mark G. Darko, CEO of the Chamber of Cannabis Industry, has urged Ghanaians to separate resources from mismanagement, highlighting cannabis as both an economic opportunity and a tool for environmental restoration.
Speaking on Morning Starr with Naa Dedei on Monday, he drew comparisons with Ghana’s gold sector, noting the gains from lawful operations.
“Even for gold, we cannot say that it’s a curse in its entirety,” he said, adding that the mineral contributed significantly to the economy.
Darko argued that the problems attributed to gold stem from illegal mining practices rather than the resource itself.
“The problem with gold has to do with illegal mining, which we call, the one we call Galamsey, isn’t it?” he stated.
Turning to cannabis, he emphasized its environmental benefits over gold mining.
“Now, the difference between gold and cannabis is that when gold miners are destroying the soil, cannabis growers are rather repairing it,” he said, citing the plant’s ability to rehabilitate degraded land.
Darko suggested using cannabis cultivation to restore areas damaged by illegal mining, framing the crop as a regenerative option capable of driving economic growth while repairing environmental harm.
Source: Starrfm.com.gh/Bilkiss Abdul Majiid
