Ghana is preparing to launch an ambitious and transformative economic initiative called the 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme (24H+) on Wednesday, July 2, 2025. This flagship initiative of President John Dramani Mahama’s administration aims to enhance the country’s productivity by extending economic activities beyond traditional working hours and integrating key sectors into a cohesive value chain.
The projected cost of the programme is $4 billion, with the government committing between $300 million and $400 million as seed capital to address viability gaps and stimulate private sector investment. According to Mr. Augustus Goosie Obuodum Tanoh, the Presidential Advisor on the 24-Hour Economy, “The initial projected cost is about $4 billion. Of that amount, $300 to $400 million will come from the government to support the viability gap requirement, ensuring that large infrastructure projects are commercially sound and appealing to private investors.” He also noted that private sector commitments have already reached nearly $2 billion.
The 24H+ programme is positioned as a nationwide economic reboot, with the goal of creating 1.7 million quality jobs within four years. It targets strategic value chains in agriculture, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, textiles, infrastructure, and logistics. The initiative is designed to harness the potential of every Ghanaian, every hour of the day, and reduce reliance on imports while boosting exports.
Abdul-Nasser Alidu, Head of Strategy and Programmes at the 24H+ Secretariat, explained the rationale behind the intervention. “Despite growth, job creation has stagnated. In the 1990s, a 10 per cent GDP growth improved employment by 7 per cent. Today, it’s just 2 per cent. The 24H+ programme will ensure growth translates into prosperity for Ghanaians, not external systems,” he said.
Eight interconnected sub-programmes form the foundation of 24H+. These include Grow24 (agriculture), Make24 (manufacturing), Build24 (infrastructure), Fund24 (financing), Show24 (creative economy and tourism), Connect24 (logistics), Aspire24 (human capital development), and Go24 (governance and civic engagement). Each is designed to address specific structural bottlenecks in Ghana’s economy while creating a seamless framework for 24-hour productivity.
Grow24 will revitalise agricultural value chains through initiatives like Eden Volta, which aims to transform the Volta Basin into West Africa’s breadbasket, and Shikpon, an urban farming scheme for Ghana’s cities. Make24 will develop 50 industrial parks and position Ghana as a manufacturing hub for West Africa. Build24 and Connect24 will provide the necessary infrastructure, including air cargo hubs, inland water transport systems, and cold chain logistics.
Fund24 will offer financial support via concessional loans, tax credits, and dedicated lending facilities. Key financial partners include the Development Bank Ghana, Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund, and EXIM Bank. The programme also proposes the creation of a Strategic Value Chain Development Fund (SVCDF), partially funded through levies on imported finished goods in sectors where local production capacity exists.
Significant incentives will be offered to private sector players. These include tax rebates of up to 50% for round-the-clock operations, import duty waivers, value chain lending facilities, and performance-based export support. Time-of-use electricity tariffs will offer lower rates for firms operating between 10pm and 6am.
Strategic projects under the initiative include the Volta Economic Corridor, Akosombo–Juapong Garments and Textiles Park, Kumasi Machinery and Technology Park, and the Legon Pharmaceutical Innovation Park. Others include the Ghana Mall, which will connect local producers to diaspora markets, and a network of TVET Digital Centres of Excellence to upskill the workforce.
Crucially, the programme is designed to be inclusive and participatory. “The time has come for Ghanaians to reject poverty and work towards realising our vast economic potential,” said Dr Tanoh. “The 24H+ programme reflects the collective aspirations of Ghanaians, beyond partisan considerations.”
The launch on July 2 will feature presentations from technical experts, policy-makers, and private sector representatives. The government also plans to roll out a national 24-Hour Readiness Programme to prepare over 5,000 businesses across all 16 regions to participate in the new economic model.
The 24H+ programme represents a bold shift in Ghana’s development strategy—from dependency and fragmentation to integration, productivity, and global competitiveness. It is a call for the nation to work smarter and harder, every hour, to deliver prosperity for all.
Source: GraphicOnline
