In July 2, 2025, President John Mahama’s government officially launched its much-anticipated 24-Hour Economy Initiative, promising continuous production, job creation and expanded economic activity.
But global history is clear: with my 25 years’ experience in financial markets and as a strategist specialising in capital structuring, FX risk management and export finance in emerging markets, operational reforms risk becoming cosmetic without deep financial engineering,
A 24-hour economy is not merely longer shifts — it is a structural redesign of capital flows, export mechanisms, FX defences and productivity models.
Germany, China, and Japan offer proven examples — but their success stems from financial and institutional alignment, not rhetoric.
Ghana’s challenge is to avoid the pitfalls of labour strain, cedi instability and capital inefficiency — and to build a 24-hour economy that strengthens foreign exchange reserves, drives export competitiveness and attracts global investment.
Germany: Capital productivity…
Germany’s 24/7 industrial model is underpinned by long-term capital through the KfW Development Bank, targeting high-depreciation, export-oriented industries, comprehensive export credit guarantees and de-risking cross-border revenue streams.
Also, rigid focus on output per euro of fixed capital, not mere labour hours.
Application for Ghana: Development Bank Ghana (DBG) must structure sector-specific, long-tenor financing for agro-processing, mineral refining, and pharmaceuticals.
Export-backed project guarantees to attract private capital. Capital productivity metrics — ensuring 24-hour operations lower per-unit costs and maximise FX returns.
China: Liquidity control…
China’s manufacturing dominance operates on: Directed PBoC liquidity to strategic industrial zones, managed RMB valuations and preserving export competitiveness.
Also, aggressive infrastructure buildout funded through SPVs and off-balance-sheet vehicles.
Application for Ghana: To avoid inflation and cedi volatility, Ghana’s 24-hour strategy demands targeted cedi liquidity tied to FX-earning sectors — cocoa, gold, oil, and agro-exports.
Export-linked infrastructure financing — industrial parks, ports, energy grids — through revenue-backed bonds, not indiscriminate public debt. FX hedging instruments to insulate margins from currency fluctuations.
Japan: Technology multipliers…
Japan’s continuous production model is built on high automation and supply chain integration.
Access to innovation financing and corporate bonds. Trade surpluses and reserves shielding the yen from external shocks.
Application for Ghana: Sustainable 24-hour operations require investment in agro-logistics technology — cold chains, automation, digital platforms.
FX stabilisation funds and derivatives to manage cedi volatility and productivity measurement by output per capital unit, not labour exhaustion.
Financial preconditions
True structural success hinges on export-linked infrastructure: Revenue-backed instruments finance ports, energy, logistics — avoiding unsustainable debt accumulation.
Selective liquidity deployment: Only sectors with FX potential receive capital injections.
With a capital productivity focus, each additional hour must demonstrably increase returns on invested capital.
With FX risk management, currency hedging and stabilisation funds protect operations and investor confidence, while with technology integration, automation offsets labour constraints and enhances global competitiveness.
Without this architecture, the 24-hour economy risks inflationary pressure from unchecked liquidity, as well as cedi depreciation from trade imbalances.
Labour strain without productivity gains causes erosion of capital efficiency.
Sectoral priorities for Ghana
These must include:
Agro-Processing export hubs
• Leverage 24-hour operations to reduce post-harvest losses.
• Finance through DBG, export guarantees, and blended capital.
• Tie output to regional and global market demand.
Mineral refining, value-addition
• Shift from raw exports to refined, higher-margin products.
• Continuous operations reduce fixed asset idle time.
• Export-linked revenue stabilises FX inflows.
Pharmaceutical manufacturing
• Expand regional supply capabilities, leveraging AfCFTA demand.
• Ensure operational uptime to compete with global firms.
• Structured finance reduces entry barriers for domestic producers.
Investor considerations
For global and domestic investors, Ghana’s success depends on FX stability mechanisms protecting operational margins, as well as export performance directly linked to debt servicing, technological upgrades improving factor productivity and transparent governance in capital deployment.
Investor caution: Without systemic financial controls, expanded operations may inflate costs without generating sustainable returns.
Investor opportunity: If executed with discipline, Ghana’s 24-hour economy offers: High-yield, export-backed infrastructure investment. Also, scalable industrial participation in agro-processing, mining, and manufacturing as well as early-mover advantage in regional supply chains under AfCFTA.
Financial architecture defines success
Ghana’s 24-Hour Economy will not succeed on branding alone. It must replicate the deep financial blueprints of global leaders: German capital productivity and export guarantees.
Also, Chinese liquidity discipline and FX-linked infrastructure finance and Japanese technology-driven output and currency defence.
The alternative is clear: labour strain, cedi instability and unproductive capital deployment.
But with financial engineering at the core, Ghana can convert longer operational cycles into real wealth — measured in FX reserves, export expansion and improved living standards.
The 24-hour clock has started.
The real test is whether Ghana’s financial system is ready.
