Ghanaian reggae-dancehall artist, Iwan Suhyini, has called out what he sees as a lack of progress and understanding regarding the economic potential of marijuana in the country.

Speaking passionately in an interview on Property FM in Cape Coast, Iwan expressed his frustration with recent decisions by authorities to burn seized bags of cannabis, calling it a missed opportunity for Ghana’s development.

“We’re not progressing as a country,” Iwan said bluntly. “This is a very big ignorance to burn several seized bags of marijuana in this day and age.

This is what we call ignorance.” His comments reflect a broader criticism of how Ghana is handling the conversation around cannabis, especially given its potential for economic growth.

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Iwan pointed to education as a key factor, highlighting that ignorance in this era is unacceptable. “Ignorance in this era is not an excuse,” he said. “If you’ve been able to go to school and, despite your education, you don’t know the benefits of marijuana, then what else do you know?”

For Iwan, it is not just about legalizing marijuana for recreational use; rather, it’s about exploring its vast potential for economic and medicinal benefits.

His comments reveal a frustration with the current focus on criminalizing marijuana use, while overlooking the larger picture of how it could contribute positively to the nation.

Cannabis is a plant that grows naturally in Ghana’s climate, and Iwan believes the country is missing out on a key resource that could help stimulate the economy. “Cannabis is something that naturally if we plant here in Ghana, it grows,” he emphasized.

“So why don’t we take advantage of that to make money?” His stance suggests that Ghana should be capitalizing on its natural resources, particularly at a time when many other countries are legalizing and profiting from the cannabis industry.

Rather than focusing solely on the smoking aspect, which has long been stigmatized, Iwan urged authorities to look beyond the stereotypes and see marijuana for its economic potential.

“No matter what, people have been smoking wee for ages, so they should stop focusing there and look at how marijuana can economically be of benefit to the country,” he said.

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