President John Dramani Mahama's 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme represents Ghana's most ambitious economic blueprint in decades.
For a nation importing everything from animal stomachs to basic foodstuffs while exporting raw materials, this comprehensive strategy could finally break the dependency cycle.
The programme's strength lies in its integrated approach—linking agriculture, manufacturing, infrastructure and human capital development into a cohesive system.
Rather than piecemeal reforms, 24H+ promises to transform Ghana from a trading economy, dependent on imports, into a productive, export-driven powerhouse. But success depends entirely on execution.
Real test
As a businessman, I am convinced Ghana doesn't lack ideas. We have seen grand economic plans before, though none as elaborate and integrated as the 24H+ programme.
The difference this time must be execution.
History shows Ghana's previous grandiose programmes suffered from a lack of willpower and sustained commitment.
Can Ghana create the Volta Economic Corridor's promised agroecological parks?
Will industrial zones materialise with reliable infrastructure?
Most critically, will the Value Chain Financing Strategy deliver affordable credit to local entrepreneurs at 12 per cent rates?
If executed properly, 24H+ could be President Mahama's defining legacy—transforming Ghana into a self-reliant economy.
With hundreds of thousands of youth outside the labour bracket, Ghana's economic future depends on the government's ability to deliver on its ambitious job creation promises.
The vision
The 24H+ programme isn't just about keeping businesses open around the clock. It is a comprehensive strategy which addresses fundamental structural weaknesses that have kept Ghana import-dependent while talented entrepreneurs struggle to scale operations.
With eight integrated sub-programmes—from Grow24's agricultural transformation to Make24's industrial renaissance—this initiative promises an economy that works for everyone, every hour.
The statistics are sobering: Trade in imported goods now dominates our economy, overtaking agriculture as the biggest growth contributor, while manufacturing has slipped from third to fourth place.
Local must lead
The 24H+ programme's brilliance lies in recognising that sustainable economic growth must be anchored by local enterprises.
While foreign investments often come with conditions and profits flowing overseas, indigenous businesses reinvest locally, create lasting employment, and build generational wealth within communities.
Ghana's small-scale enterprises (SMEs) currently face insurmountable challenges: limited finance access, inadequate infrastructure, poor supply chains, and competition from cheap imports.
The 24H+ programme directly addresses these bottlenecks through its Value Chain Financing Strategy, promising concessional loans at 12 per cent interest rates, infrastructure tax credits, and performance-based incentives.
Agbleduwo Revolution, parks
Perhaps the most exciting component is the Agbleduwo network—modern agroecological parks transforming how Ghana farms.
These integrated zones combine irrigation, renewable energy, processing centres, and mechanisation services, offering farmers a fully serviced environment to farm efficiently and profitably.
The Eden Volta initiative alone promises to unlock tens of thousands of hectares, positioning the Volta Basin as West Africa's breadbasket.
The Make24 sub-programme envisions 50 industrial parks nationwide, supported by reliable infrastructure, logistics and utilities.
The Akosombo-Juapong Textiles and Garments Park, Legon Pharmaceutical Innovation Park and Kumasi Machinery & Technology Park are designed as ecosystems where local manufacturers can access shared services, training and export markets.
Presidential Advisor Augustus Goosie Tanoh and his team deserve credit for conceptualising this integrated approach, moving Ghana from fragmentation to integration; from dependency to self-reliance.
Their diverse ideas reflect a deep understanding of our economic challenges. However, the true test lies in the implementation, which I am convinced they will deliver.
Legacy opportunity
President Mahama has the best opportunity to regain public trust in Ghana's democratic journey and leave a legacy transcending political cycles.
Unlike infrastructure projects that can be abandoned or policies reversed, the 24H+ programme aims to fundamentally restructure Ghana's economy.
The programme's promise to create 1.7 million quality jobs over four years isn't just about employment; it's about building a generation of economically empowered Ghanaians who can create decent lives and drive continued growth.
Path forward
The 24-Hour Readiness Programme, preparing over 5,000 businesses across all 16 regions to operate around the clock, must prioritise local SMEs.
Ghana's future lies not in hoping for foreign saviours, but in unleashing our own entrepreneurs' potential.
The 24H+ programme provides that framework. Now, we need political will to make it work for Ghanaians first.
The writer is a businessman and philanthropist
