A Productive Economy Depends on Healthy Workers

Ghana’s 24-Hour Healthcare Revolution

By Stephen Lartey

Technology and Digital Expert

slarteyy@yahoo.com

Introduction

Ghana’s 24 Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme should be understood not simply as an extension of working hours, but as a productivity, healthcare and technology transformation agenda. Its deeper purpose is to improve how Ghana produces, finances, transports, processes and delivers services around the clock.

The real test is therefore not how many shops or factories remain open at 2 a.m. It is whether every hour of labour, investment, infrastructure and technology produces greater economic and social value. Healthcare belongs at the centre of this vision because a productive economy depends on healthy workers, emergency services, accessible hospitals, efficient pharmacies, laboratories, medical logistics and digital health systems.

A Stronger Economic Foundation

The programme is taking shape during an encouraging period of economic recovery. Real GDP grew by 6.4 per cent in the first quarter of 2026, compared with 6.2 percent in the same period of 2025. Non-oil GDP expanded by 6.3 percent, services by 7.1 percent and information and communication technology by 25.2 per cent. Inflation had declined to 5.3 per cent by June 2026.

These indicators create an opportunity to convert stability into factories, technology firms, modern farms, healthcare infrastructure, jobs and exports.

Healthcare and Health Technology as Productive Infrastructure

Healthcare must be treated not only as social expenditure but also as productive infrastructure. A genuine 24Hour economy requires hospitals, pharmacies, laboratories, ambulance systems and emergency services that can support workers and businesses beyond conventional operating hours.

Technology can extend that capacity. Telemedicine can connect patients in underserved communities with doctors and specialists. Electronic medical records can improve continuity of care. Digital appointment, referral and insurance verification systems can reduce delays, while data analytics and artificial intelligence-supported tools can strengthen clinical decision-making.

Health technology also creates employment for software developers, biomedical engineers, pharmacists, laboratory scientists, data analysts, technicians and logistics professionals.

Eight Programmes, One Productive Health Economy

Programme

Healthcare and technology contribution

GROW24

Support nutritional crops and medicinal agricultural inputs

MAKE24

Expand pharmaceutical and medical equipment manufacturing

BUILD24

Develop hospitals, laboratories and digital health infrastructure

CONNECT24

Strengthen ambulance, medical logistics and connectivity systems

FUND24

Finance hospitals, pharmacies and health technology enterprises

ASPIRE24

Train health professionals, technicians and digital specialists

SHOW24 and GO24

Promote Ghanaian health products and services locally and abroad

The eight programmes identified in the 24H+ framework should therefore operate as one integrated productive system. Healthcare should run through this architecture rather than remain a separate policy concern.

Measure Results, Not Announcements

Ghana needs a transparent scorecard measuring output per worker, jobs created, capacity utilisation, exports, logistics costs and private capital mobilised. Healthcare indicators should include service availability, emergency response capacity, digital health adoption, pharmaceutical production, medical supply reliability and jobs created within the health technology ecosystem.

Conclusion

Ghana’s 24Hour revolution should ultimately be judged by productivity, competitiveness, healthier citizens and sustainable employment. If the country can convert economic stability into investment, investment into technology, technology into better healthcare and productivity into exports and higher household incomes, 24Hour could become a defining transformation programme.

History may then remember the 24 Hour Economy not simply for extending Ghana’s working day, but for building an economy in which every hour produces greater value, better health and wider opportunity.