President John Mahama
President John Dramani Mahama has announced that the government’s ambitious 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme will require an investment of $4 billion to fully implement.
The government, he said, is committing between $300 million and $400 million as seed capital to bridge viability gaps and attract private sector participation.
Speaking at the official launch of the programme in Accra yesterday, President Mahama described the 24-Hour Economy as a bold national reset aimed at revitalising the country’s economic architecture.
He said the initiative moves beyond campaign rhetoric and represents a strategic shift to unlock the country’s full productive potential.
“This is more than a policy initiative; it is a national reset, a bold strategic shift to unlock our country’s full productive potential,” he declared and continued, “We reclaim our founder’s vision of a self-reliant, industrious and inclusive African nation that works with its creativity and ensures prosperity for all.”
The programme, according to the President, is designed to re-engineer the country’s productivity model by extending economic activity beyond traditional working hours.
He said rather than merely keeping shops open all night, the initiative seeks to increase exports, create jobs, and build resilience across sectors through targeted, multi-sectoral interventions.
He indicated that the programme is structured to create 1.7 million quality jobs over the next four years, the 24-Hour Economy targets key sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, construction, logistics, tourism, finance, and education.
It also aims to reduce Ghana’s dependence on imports and promote value addition across strategic value chains, he added.
President Mahama explained that the policy is being implemented through a comprehensive national framework presented in a “Full Report” and eight sub-programme documents.
He disclosed that each sub-programme – Grow24, Make24, Build24, Show24, Connect24, Fund24, Aspire24, and Go24 – focuses on a specific area of national development.
According to him, these range from agriculture and industrialisation to human capital, digital infrastructure, and results-driven governance.
He said his government’s approach is to create an enabling environment for continuous economic activity, supported by improved infrastructure, sound policies, and the right incentives for businesses to thrive around the clock.
“The 24-hour plus programme is that collective answer. And so we have moved from slogan to strategy today. This launch is not the end but a beginning of a national mobilisation,” he stated.
President Mahama noted that the programme would promote financial inclusion, strengthen digital and transport networks, boost creative arts and tourism, and invest in youth skills training to prepare the workforce for a modern, high-performing economy.
He added that his administration is committed to ensuring full implementation and monitoring of the policy to deliver results and impact.
“If we stay on this path, Ghana will not only grow faster, but grow fairly, inclusively, and sustainably,” he concluded.
By Ernest Kofi Adu