24-hour economy a game-changer for jobs, national growth — Analyst
By Rebecca Okine
Economic analyst Emmanuel Boateng has described Ghana’s newly launched 24-hour economy policy as a bold and transformative initiative that could position the country as a high-output, efficiency-driven economy if implemented strategically.
His comments come in the wake of the official launch of the policy by President John Dramani Mahama at the Accra International Conference Centre on July 2, 2025.
The initiative, which aims to create 1.7 million jobs over the next four years, is the flagship program of the new Mahama-led administration.
Speaking on Business Breakfast on Zed, Mr. Boateng clarified misconceptions about the 24-hour economy, noting that it is not about working around the clock without rest but rather about rethinking productivity cycles and economic planning.
“This is not an issue of staying awake 24 hours or losing sleep; it’s an economic initiative focused on driving productivity by making use of hours that currently go unutilized, especially in sectors like energy, infrastructure, and industry,” he explained.
Mr. Boateng emphasized that Ghana’s productive capacities remain largely idle at night, not due to power shortages, but because core activities in areas like agriculture, manufacturing, and logistics often operate only during the day.
“When we go to bed, those sectors also go to bed,” he noted.
The economic analyst argued that the 24-hour economy, if strategically implemented, could significantly boost GDP growth and reduce youth unemployment.
Addressing job creation targets, Mr. Boateng admitted that creating 1.7 million new jobs in four years is ambitious but not unrealistic.
“It’s a bold vision, but like in real life, knowing how to do something is not the same as actually doing it. Everything boils down to implementation,” he stated.
He noted that the policy must go beyond intentions. “A lot of people have great plans in their minds, but without action, those plans remain dreams. What will make this different is strategic execution backed by incentives, training, and infrastructure.”
Mr. Boateng cited the health sector as a real-world example of continuous productivity, where nurses and midwives already work in shifts.
“Some sectors already run on a 24-hour basis. We must now extend that mindset to other industries,” he stated.
Mr. Boateng concluded that with the right structures, the 24-hour economy could mark a major shift in Ghana’s development trajectory.
