Hempire Association of Ghana (HAG) has applauded Member of Parliament Agyeman-Rawlings for taking a stand and commended her for distinguishing herself in what it says is an assembly filled with members lacking in knowledge, awareness and preparedness.

In her address to Parliament recently, the MP for Klottey Korle highlighted the potential of industrial hemp, saying Ghana should cultivate the plant to offset the worsening problem of plastic waste, given that it was biodegradable. She was addressing a session on World Environmental Day 2025 at Parliament House.

In the aftermath of Agyeman-Rawlings’ speech, HAG CEO Nana Kwaku Agyemang stated that the MP had set herself apart “by addressing the pressing issue of plastic pollution with both insight and actionable proposals” in sharp contrast to the “general statements lacking in concrete solutions” that characterised most of the discussions.

“The economic impact of plastic pollution is equally alarming. Tourism, one of Ghana’s most vital sources of foreign exchange, is being steadily eroded by the unsightly presence of plastic waste on our beaches and in our natural landscapes,” Agyemang said, adding that agricultural productivity was in decline due to degraded soils and microplastic contamination which reduced crop yields and threatened long-term food security. He noted that industrial hemp would also alleviate health problems such as malaria and cholera caused by stagnant water due to drainage systems blocked by plastic waste.

“Drawing attention to the plant’s versatility and environmental benefits, she advocated for its cultivation and utilisation as a means to mitigate the nation’s plastic waste crisis”, said the HAG CEO, writing in HAG News, the organisation’s hemp newsletter.

Ghana’s lawmakers have kept investors and farmers in a guessing game for some time by failing to stake out a clear pathway to inaugurate a hemp economy for the West African country. Legislation was finally adopted last year with the signing of a Legal Instrument (LI) after a delay of three years as stakeholders called for Parliament to speed up the finalisation of legislative regulations.

Some farmers in the country of 33 million are looking to hemp to fill the vacuum left by lost cocoa production, which has been disrupted by illegal mining prospecting. There are about 300 farmer groups waiting to get in on the action, with Canadian and other foreign investors having also expressed interest.

As of now, stakeholders are waiting for Parliament to adjudicate and approve the package of licensing fees and regulations presented by the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) of Ghana, following the resumption of Parliament last month.

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