24-Hour Economy Bill - Ends location bias, unlocks budget-friendly hiring

A new policy proposal is set to transform Ghana’s employment landscape by eliminating location bias in hiring and making remote work more accessible for businesses.

The 24-Hour Economy (24 HE) Remote Workers Bill aims to expand job opportunities beyond urban centres, allowing professionals in remote areas to compete fairly in the job market.

By advocating a structured framework to support remote employment, the bill ensures that businesses—especially start-ups and small enterprises—can hire skilled professionals without the constraints of geographical location.

This opens doors for cost-effective hiring, enabling companies to access a broader talent pool, while staying within budget. Start-ups, which often struggle with high operational costs, will particularly benefit from the flexibility this bill provides.

Additionally, the proposal includes incentives for businesses that embrace remote work, reducing dependence on expensive office spaces.

By shifting focus to virtual employment, Ghana's economy stands to gain cost savings, increased job creation, and a workforce that values skill over proximity.

Beyond eliminating location bias, the bill brings wider socio-economic benefits, enabling persons with disabilities to work remotely, overcoming the mobility challenges that have long hindered their employment prospects.

By encouraging co-working spaces, it addresses transportation inefficiencies and urban traffic congestion in cities such as Accra, reducing the daily commute for thousands of workers.

Furthermore, the bill’s support for co-living spaces offers a potential solution to Ghana’s housing crisis for the working class, ensuring that affordable and convenient living arrangements keep pace with evolving work trends.

From a government perspective, the bill presents an opportunity to create more jobs without heavy spending on physical infrastructure, as remote work reduces the need for constant road expansion and office buildings.

Additionally, it opens the doors for real estate investors to develop co-working and co-living spaces, capitalising on the growing demand for flexible work environments.

On the global stage, Ghana stands to benefit from the influx of digital nomads, whose remote work lifestyles can inject foreign income into the economy.

By positioning Ghana as a prime destination for location-independent professionals, the bill could enhance the country’s international competitiveness in the digital workforce.

As Ghana moves toward a 24-HE, this bill could be a game-changer, ensuring that employment opportunities are not dictated by location, but talent and competence. If adopted, it will mark a major step towards equitable employment, economic flexibility and sustainable business growth.

Kojo Sagoe
E-mail: 24houreconomyremoteworkersbill
@gmail.com