President starts 24-Hour Economy engine - Ambitious plan to revamp industry
President John Dramani Mahama on Wednesday unveiled an ambitious plan to keep the nation's engines running around the clock, an initiative expected to radically transform the country’s economic landscape.
The flagship 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme, launched at a packed Accra International Conference Centre (AICC), was hailed by the President as a "national reset" and a bold strategy to revive the struggling economy.
Elaborating on this anticipated transformative vision, President Mahama stressed that the initiative represented more than just policy tweaks; it signalled a comprehensive shift in the national economic direction.
"This moves us beyond political rhetoric to a coherent, multi-sectoral transformation agenda that will touch every corner of Ghana's economy," he said.
President Mahama explained that the 24-Hour Economy programme was “a bold strategic shift to unlock our country’s full productive potential”.
“Today, we reclaim our Founder’s vision of a self-reliant, industrious and inclusive African nation that works with its creativity and ensures prosperity for all,” he said.
The event
The event brought together influential leaders from both the public and private sectors, uniting key stakeholders behind the expected transformative vision.
Among the distinguished attendees were the Vice-President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang; the Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Agyare; 24 Hour Economy Government Advisor, Goosie Tannoh, and Senior Presidential Advisor on Governmental Affairs, Valerie Sawyerr.
The ceremony reached its climax with the dramatic unveiling of a striking, giant logo—a powerful visual emblem marking the official launch of the ambitious initiative.
As the cover dropped, the auditorium erupted in thunderous applause, symbolising the collective enthusiasm for the country’s new economic dawn.
The programme is designed not just to extend working hours but to stimulate productivity, accelerate exports and generate inclusive economic opportunities across key sectors, including agriculture, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, logistics, infrastructure and textiles.
“The 24-Hour Plus Programme is that collective answer,” President Mahama stated.
“We have moved from slogan to strategy today.
This launch is not the end but the beginning of a national mobilisation,” he emphasised.
$4bn investment
The initiative is backed by a projected $4 billion investment, with the government committing between $300 million and $400 million as seed capital to catalyse private sector participation.
President Mahama emphasised that public funding would be “catalytic”, focusing on enabling bulk infrastructure and strategic roll-out mechanisms.
“Any government funding in 24-Hour Plus will be catalytic, serving as seed funding for the 24-Hour Plus Authority and supporting bulk infrastructure,” he explained.
He stressed that the programme would be private sector-led, with the government playing a facilitative role to foster enterprise-level innovation and investment.
Financing for businesses under the programme will be sourced through commercial banks, development finance institutions (DFIs) and blended finance instruments to ensure sustainability.
“The private sector will lead the 24-Hour Plus Programme. Government will facilitate and not dominate,” the President affirmed.
The initiative has three main goals, namely to create 1.7 million jobs in four years, to reduce Ghana's reliance on imports, and to make the country more competitive in regional and global export markets.
The policy framework consists of nine carefully structured documents placed as a central master plan providing the overarching strategy, complemented by eight focused thematic subprogrammes.
These subprogrammes — Grow24 for agricultural development, Make24 for industrial growth, Build24 covering infrastructure, Show24 focusing on tourism and culture, Connect24 for digital and logistics expansion, Fund24 addressing financial systems, Aspire24 dedicated to education and skills training, and Go24 targeting export markets — will work together to drive comprehensive economic transformation across all key sectors.
Clarifying misconception
Addressing misconceptions about the initiative, President Mahama clarified that the 24-Hour Economy was not merely about extending work hours, but about unlocking productivity, expanding opportunities and accelerating exports through structured interventions.
“Let me be clear here; the 24+ Agenda is not just about extending working hours.
It is about unleashing productivity, expanding opportunities and accelerating exports through well-structured and inclusive interventions,” he said.
Implementation
The 24-Hour Economy policy is a cornerstone of the President Mahama administration’s economic vision, expected to promote job creation, stimulate investment and strengthen Ghana’s global competitiveness.
“In 2024, the idea of a 24-hour economy captured national attention.
It became a slogan of hope, a symbol that change was necessary, and that it was possible,” President Mahama recalled.
While the policy launch marked a milestone, President Mahama acknowledged that the real challenge was in execution.
“Our task now is to ensure that the necessary change is with the implementation.
This launch is not the end, but it is the beginning of a massive national mobilisation,” he said.
The programme seeks to re-engineer Ghana’s productivity architecture, integrating key value chains across time zones to harness the potential of “every Ghanaian, every hour of the day”.
With implementation now underway, attention will shift to how effectively the programme mobilises public-private partnerships to achieve its ambitious targets.
