Mahama rolls out 24-hour economy plan to transform Ghana
President John Dramani Mahama has formally launched the much anticipated 24 Hour Economy policy, outlining an eight pillar framework designed to transform Ghana’s economy into a round the clock engine of growth, jobs, and productivity.
Speaking at the launch event in Accra on Tuesday, July 2, 2025, President Mahama described the policy as “a comprehensive and future facing solution” to Ghana’s structural economic challenges, youth unemployment crisis, and persistent growth bottlenecks.
He emphasized that the 24 Hour Economy is not merely about keeping businesses open day and night, but about fundamentally reengineering Ghana’s productivity model through policy incentives, infrastructure, and human capital development.
“This is about creating the right environment for businesses to operate continuously through energy reliability, logistics, finance, digital platforms, and a skilled workforce ready to engage across three shifts,” President Mahama explained.
The policy is anchored on eight thematic pillars, each branded with a dynamic slogan:
The Eight Pillars Explained
Grow 24: Focused on transforming the agricultural sector into a climate smart, technology driven growth area. The aim is to enable year round, round the clock agricultural production, improve value chains, and reduce post harvest losses.
Make 24: This pillar supports industrialization and manufacturing. President Mahama said it will promote 24 hour operations in industrial enclaves, free zones, and factories to expand exports and boost employment.
Build 24: Under this initiative, construction and infrastructure projects, especially public works, would be incentivized to run three shifts daily. This is expected to accelerate housing delivery, road construction, and maintenance projects.
Show 24: Dedicated to the creative arts, entertainment, and tourism sectors, this pillar will support cultural events, hospitality services, and nightlife industries to flourish and position Ghana as a continental hub for entertainment and global tourism.
Connect 24: Targeting critical enablers like energy, internet, and transport networks, this pillar will ensure uninterrupted access to infrastructure, supporting logistics, services, and manufacturing sectors that depend on continuous connectivity.
Fund 24: This area focuses on equipping financial institutions—banks, fintechs, and microfinance companies—to offer extended hour services, expanding access to credit and digital payments throughout the day.
Aspire 24: Human capital development takes center stage here, with investments in technical education, re-skilling, entrepreneurship, and training programs to prepare the youth for emerging job opportunities within the 24 hour economic landscape.
Go 24: This is the policy’s operational engine, responsible for coordination, monitoring, and enforcement. It will track performance metrics and ensure that all sectors align with the overall 24 Hour Economy agenda.
President Mahama reaffirmed that the policy would be institutionalized through a legislative framework, beginning with the conversion of the current coordinating secretariat into a fully fledged 24 Hour Economy Authority, subject to parliamentary approval.
“The 24 Hour Economy is not a slogan. It is a structured economic transformation agenda rooted in Ghana’s realities, aimed at lifting the country from stagnation to sustainable prosperity,” President Mahama added.
