24-Hour Economy Agenda must be matched with relentless execution

President John Dramani Mahama’s launch of the $4 billion 24-Hour Economy and Export Programme marks a bold and commendable step toward restructuring Ghana’s economic foundation. 

With a vision to generate 1.7 million quality jobs, reduce import dependency, and stimulate export competitiveness, the initiative seeks to awaken the dormant hours of our national productivity and galvanise the entire economic value chain across industries, sectors and regions around the clock.

At a time when Ghanaians are yearning for genuine transformation rather than political promises, the 24-Hour Plus Programme stands out not only for its scale and ambition but also for its strategic clarity.

By pledging catalytic government investment of $300–$400 million to unlock private capital, and by establishing clearly defined thematic areas—Grow24,

Make24, Build24, Show24, Connect24, Fund24, Aspire24, and Go24—the initiative moves beyond political sloganeering to offer a structured framework for action.

The Daily Graphic commends the government for showing leadership and vision.

This is exactly the kind of forward-thinking policy that Ghana needs in a global economy driven by speed, scale and adaptability.

But having moved from “slogan to strategy,” as President Mahama rightly put it, the real challenge now lies in moving from “strategy to sustained execution.”

Indeed, Ghana’s development history is littered with promising policies that failed to materialise—not for lack of good intentions, but due to poor implementation, inadequate stakeholder engagement and, most regrettably, political discontinuity.

We recall ambitious efforts such as Vision 2020, the Seven-Year Development Plan, and even more recently, the

One District One Factory (1D1F) programme, all came with fanfare and excitement, but many struggled to produce their intended results either because the foundational structures were weak, or because they lacked cross-party and institutional support.

To ensure the 24-Hour Plus Programme does not suffer a similar fate, we think the government must stay focused and ensure that the necessary inputs, infrastructure, and institutional backing are provided consistently and transparently.

A 24-hour economy will require more than rhetoric and ribbon-cutting; it will require reliable electricity supply, strong transportation networks, responsive public services (such as ports, customs and regulatory bodies) that can operate around the clock, and, above all, the full buy-in of the Ghanaian people and the private sector.

Critical to the success of this policy is the need for a sustained and inclusive national conversation.

Every Ghanaian, irrespective of political persuasion, must understand that this initiative is not a party agenda, but a national development programme.

The temptation to politicise such policies often robs them of the collective ownership and long-term support needed to see them through.

We must rise above partisanship and view this policy as a shared responsibility.

To that end, the government should take deliberate steps to institutionalise the programme beyond the tenure of any one administration.

This could include the passing of enabling legislation in Parliament to establish the 24-Hour Plus Authority as an independent entity with clear mandates and safeguards.

There should also be bipartisan oversight mechanisms to ensure that no administration can arbitrarily dismantle or distort the policy for political expediency.

Additionally, we urge the government to launch a nationwide public education campaign on the 24-Hour Economy—what it means, how it will function, and how individuals and businesses can benefit and contribute.

Engagement with local governments, traditional authorities, labour unions, academia, civil society and industry leaders will be crucial.

Only with widespread understanding and participation can such a sweeping policy achieve its intended transformative impact.

We also call on the private sector to take up the mantle of leadership as the President has envisioned.

The real test of this policy will be how well entrepreneurs, manufacturers, agribusinesses, tech firms, logistics companies and other actors take advantage of the enabling environment to innovate and expand operations into the night hours.

Commercial banks and development finance institutions must also rise to the occasion by developing tailored products that support 24-hour operations.

The launch of the 24-Hour Economy and Export Programme is a historic moment that presents a real opportunity for Ghana to reimagine its economic destiny.

The vision is right, the ambition is timely, and the framework is promising.

But for this policy to succeed, the government must lead with discipline and openness, the private sector must drive with confidence and creativity, and citizens must rally behind the national interest.

Let us see this as Ghana choosing progress over partisanship, execution over empty promises, and unity over division.