Mahama Signs 24-Hour Economy Authority Bill into Law, Urges Swift Implementation
By Nii Trebi Hammond
President John Dramani Mahama has signed the 24-Hour Economy Authority Bill into law, clearing the final legislative hurdle for the implementation of one of his administration’s flagship economic policies.
The President assented to the Bill on Thursday, February 19, ahead of a Cabinet meeting, signalling the formal commencement of Ghana’s transition towards a 24-hour operational economy. The law establishes the 24-Hour Economy Authority as the central body mandated to coordinate and drive the nationwide rollout of the policy.
Speaking shortly after appending his signature, President Mahama stressed the need for swift execution, noting that both domestic and foreign investors are awaiting clarity on the incentive framework tied to the policy.
“This is a bill Ghanaians have been waiting for. It was one of our flagship strategies for economic transformation. It has taken a while but we needed to go patiently through the process to give legal effect to it.
“And so, from now we must move from strategy to implementation. The business sector is waiting, the Ghanaian investor is waiting, foreign investors are waiting. They want to see the package of incentives that we afford them so that they can invest more and expand productivity and also create more employment for our young people,” he stated.
Parliament passed the Bill on Friday, February 6, 2026, following extensive debate between the Majority and Minority caucuses. The legislation provides the legal architecture for the 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme, which government says is designed to address structural bottlenecks within Ghana’s productive sectors.
Under the new law, the Authority will mobilise investment, coordinate public and private sector activities, and ensure the availability of infrastructure and regulatory support systems required to sustain round-the-clock economic activity. The framework seeks to integrate production, supply chains, marketing systems and labour development into a continuous, 24/7 model.
The 24-hour economy policy was a key campaign pledge of the National Democratic Congress during the 2024 general elections. Government has since positioned it as a catalyst for industrial expansion, export diversification and job creation, particularly for young people.
With the legislation now in force, attention turns to implementation timelines, the structure of incentives for businesses, and the Authority’s capacity to translate policy ambition into measurable economic gains.
