By Paul Mamattah
The Presidential Advisor on the 24-Hour Economy, Goosie Tanoh, has revealed that the government will secure $4 billion over the next four years towards the full-scale implementation of the 24-Hour Economy programme from development financial partners and institutions across the globe.
He explained that the programme aims to drive long-term industrial growth, create jobs, and improve export competitiveness, with the government committing $300 to $400 million as seed funding to encourage private sector involvement.
Speaking at a pre-launch press briefing in Accra for the 24-Hour Economy (24H+), Mr. Tanoh stressed that the policy will focus on simplifying regulations, addressing infrastructure issues, and introducing specific incentives to make Ghana a more appealing hub for local and international investors.
The 24-Hour Economy initiative (24H+) is a flagship policy aimed at accelerating job creation, improving productivity, and positioning Ghana as a competitive player in the global economy.
The Government of Ghana, under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama, will launch the 24-Hour Economy (24H+) as a flagship economic transformation agenda.
The programme reimagines Ghana’s production, service delivery, and value creation systems to operate beyond traditional working hours.
At its core, the 24H+ economy promotes continuous productivity, job creation, industrial competitiveness, and regional integration.
The 24H+ is a national movement designed to unlock the full potential of Ghana’s human capital, natural resources, and entrepreneurial capacity. It responds to challenges such as underemployment, reliance on imports, low value addition, and infrastructure gaps.
This bold initiative aligns with global competitiveness trends and prepares Ghanaian enterprises to seize opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The Presidential Advisor on the 24-Hour Economy, Goosie Tanoh, outlined the framework for the government’s 24-Hour Economy initiative, emphasizing its potential to transform national development.
According to him, the programme rests on three main pillars including Production Transformation, Supply Chain and Market Efficiency, and Human Capital Development.
Mr. Tanoh pointed out that these areas aim to boost industrial output, improve distribution networks, and develop a skilled workforce that can support a round-the-clock economy.
He also mentioned that the initiative includes eight supporting sub-programmes, such as Grow 24, Make 24, Connect 24, Show Ghana, Go Ghana, Digital Technology, as well as Aspire 24 stressing that each sub-programme targets specific sectors to encourage overall economic growth.
Mr. Tanoh emphasized that the ultimate goal is to achieve a level of competitiveness and output growth that allows Ghanaian industries and traders to enter export markets.
He passionately called for a shift in national mindset: “As Ghanaians, we must be tired of being poor and being labeled as poor when we have vast resources and potential for exceptional human capital. This program aims to strengthen our private sector and unlock our economic potential.”
Mr. Tanoh disclosed that the 24-Hour Economy Secretariat would also be converted into an Authority to enhance its scope of operations, he added.
In a presentation on the policy document, the Head of Strategy and Programme at the 24-Hour Economy Secretariat, Abdul-Nasser Alidu, highlighted the various sub-programmes saying that the programme was designed to transform production with agriculture as its main anchor to ensure food sufficiency.
He emphasized the inclusion of labour and security provisions in the operational phase of the 24-Hour Economy programme stressing the need to ensure safety and decent work standards for all potential workers.
Mr. Abdul-Nasser explained that while many Ghanaians view the 24-Hour Economy programme as mainly about night-shift jobs, it covers a much wider range of activities noting that the initiative represents a national overhaul of Ghana’s economy.
He explained that it aims to connect important sectors like agriculture, industry, finance, infrastructure, labour, and education.
Additionally, Mr. Abdul-Nasser mentioned that the programme seeks to change Ghana’s production, service delivery, and value creation systems to work beyond traditional hours.
He described the 24-Hour Economy programme as a national movement meant to tap into Ghana’s full potential in human resources, natural assets, and entrepreneurial drive.
