Let’s use 24-Hour Economy to spur growth

Yesterday, President John Mahama gave assent to the 24-Hour Economy Authority Bill, 2025, marking a decisive moment in the country’s economic policy direction. (See our front page lead story).

With Parliament having passed the legislation which sets the proper legal framework and a central authority now established, all to operationalise the all-important 24-Hour policy intervention, the conversation must now shift from promise to performance.

For investors, both local and foreign, the key question is simple: what does this new framework offer in practical terms?

A properly structured 24-hour economy is not merely about keeping shops open at night; it is also about expanding productive hours across manufacturing, logistics, agro-processing, health services, transport, ICT and retail.

For investors, this means higher asset utilisation. 

Factories, warehouses, equipment and even office space can generate more output within the same 24-hour cycle.

 Instead of idle capacity after sunset, businesses can spread fixed costs across longer operating hours, improving margins.

There is also the employment dimension.

A three-shift system creates new jobs without necessarily requiring entirely new infrastructure.

This expands the labour market, strengthens household incomes and, in turn, boosts consumer demand. 

Investors benefit when purchasing power rises.

A larger base of employed workers means a broader market for goods and services.

The creation of a 24-Hour Economy Authority is intended to coordinate infrastructure, regulation and incentives.

That coordination will be critical. 

Investors will be looking for reliable electricity supply, safe transport networks at night, efficient security arrangements and streamlined regulatory processes.

If these fundamentals are in place, the policy could reduce operational bottlenecks that have long constrained growth.

For export-oriented industries, extended operating hours could enhance Ghana’s competitiveness.

Faster turnaround times in ports, continuous processing in agro-industrial zones, and improved logistics chains can shorten delivery schedules.

In global trade, speed and reliability matter. Investors who see efficiency gains are more likely to commit long-term capital.

There is also an opportunity in new sectors. Night-time services such as healthcare, hospitality, digital platforms, maintenance services and urban transport could expand significantly.

Real estate developers may find demand rising for mixed-use industrial parks designed for round-the-clock activity.

Financial institutions could develop tailored products to support businesses operating on shift systems.

However, the policy will only attract serious investment if implementation is consistent and predictable.

Investors value certainty.

Clear guidelines on incentives, labour regulations, safety standards and taxation will determine whether the 24-hour model becomes a credible business environment or remains a political slogan.

The President’s call to move from strategy to implementation is therefore timely.

The local private sector is watching closely.

So are international investors assessing the country’s growth prospects. 

The 24-hour economy has the potential to raise productivity, deepen industrialisation and expand employment.

But it must be anchored in infrastructure, governance and accountability.

If executed well, the policy could signal that Ghana is ready to compete not just in daylight hours, but across the full span of the global clock.

For investors seeking scale, efficiency and a growing domestic market, that prospect is worth serious consideration.