Ghana’s Long-Term Stability Rests on Full Rollout of 24-Hour Economy – CDD
Ghana’s economic rebound in 2025 has delivered measurable fiscal improvements, but sustaining the momentum will depend on the effective implementation of the government’s flagship “24-Hour Economy” and “Big Push” programmes, according to a new assessment by the Centre for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana).
The policy think tank notes that while macroeconomic indicators point to renewed stability, structural transformation, particularly in production, value addition and job creation remains the decisive factor in determining whether the recovery becomes permanent.
According to the report, inflation declined significantly over the year under review, the cedi regained strength, and Ghana’s debt-to-GDP ratio fell from 61.8 per cent to 45 per cent, outperforming official projections. The improvement has been accompanied by easing food prices and transport fares, offering relief to households and businesses alike.
However, CDD-Ghana cautions that the progress is delicate and could prove short-lived without deeper reforms anchored in productivity and domestic value creation.
“The success of the ‘24-Hour Economy’ and the ‘Big Push’ will determine whether Ghana can finally stop relying on imported goods and raw gold and instead begin producing its own wealth while protecting its contaminated water bodies and forests for the future,” the report states.
The “24-Hour Economy” initiative seeks to stimulate continuous, round-the-clock economic activity by expanding agro-processing, manufacturing and essential public services. The objective is to build an export-driven production base capable of generating employment and maximising the use of existing industrial capacity.
Complementing this is the “Big Push” agenda, designed to mobilise large-scale public and private investment into strategic infrastructure and resource-based industries. The programme aims to shift Ghana’s economic model from exporting raw materials to processing them domestically, thereby retaining greater value within the local economy.
CDD-Ghana emphasises that the two initiatives are particularly critical in addressing persistent youth unemployment. Despite improvements in headline economic data, approximately one-third of young people remain unemployed or outside formal education and training. A significant share of new jobs created over the past year is concentrated in the informal sector, raising concerns about income security and long-term productivity growth.
The report further highlights environmental sustainability as a central risk factor. Illegal mining, commonly referred to as galamsey, continues to threaten water bodies and forest reserves, underscoring the need to align industrial expansion with responsible natural resource management.
While commending the administration’s fiscal consolidation efforts and gold-backed measures that have helped restore macroeconomic confidence, CDD-Ghana stresses that stability alone will not guarantee inclusive growth.
With substantial external debt repayments due in 2026 and 2027, the think tank argues that the next phase of policy execution will be decisive. Effective implementation of the “24-Hour Economy” and “Big Push” will determine whether Ghana can entrench economic resilience, expand decent employment opportunities and build a self-sustaining production base.
For investors and policy makers, the message is clear: Ghana’s recovery is underway, but its durability will depend on translating macroeconomic gains into structural transformation that delivers broad-based prosperity.
