Ghana’s flagship 24-Hour Economy Programme has attracted more than US$11.5 billion in prospective investments, with US$5.5 billion already secured under binding joint development agreements. As the Government scales up initiatives to accelerate industrialisation, expand exports, and create sustainable employment, the investment pipeline is expected to expand further.
The programme aims to create 1.7 million quality jobs by the end of President John Dramani Mahama’s current term, positioning it as one of the country’s most ambitious economic transformation initiatives.
Addressing organised labour and employers at the National Labour Conference in Ho, Presidential Advisor on the 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme, Mr. Augustus Tanoh, said the initiative seeks to fundamentally restructure Ghana’s productive sectors rather than pursue incremental policy reforms.
He said the programme had made significant progress since its launch in July 2025, attracting “US$11.5 billion in prospective investments,” while US$5.5 billion had already been formalised through joint development agreements to support implementation across key sectors.
Tanoh further disclosed that the government had mobilised 605,000 hectares of land through a participatory land access framework designed to preserve community ownership while making land available for productive investment.
He explained that the programme was built to address long-standing structural constraints limiting Ghana’s competitiveness, including logistics costs that account for up to 60 per cent of the retail price of locally produced goods, challenges in securing investment-ready land, inadequate shared infrastructure and persistent skills gaps within the workforce.
According to him, overcoming these obstacles requires systems to be “entirely and completely re-engineered” to support industrial growth and export competitiveness.
Tanoh said the programme’s employment strategy prioritises the creation of quality jobs that meet defined standards, including payment of at least the national minimum wage, opportunities for skills development, statutory tax compliance and employment lasting no fewer than 12 months.
He stressed that the government would provide the “catalytic instruments” for implementation, while employers assume investment risks and organised labour ensures economic modernisation delivers decent work instead of worker exploitation.
The Presidential Advisor urged labour unions to prepare for what could become the largest expansion of Ghana’s organised workforce in decades, estimating that the programme could generate about 1.5 million potential new union members if industrial investments materialise.
He cautioned that unless labour organisations actively organise workers within emerging industrial zones, labour contractors and informal intermediaries could dominate recruitment, limiting workers’ access to employment protections and benefits.
Tanoh also announced collaboration with the German Agricultural Workers Union to strengthen rural employment through cooperative enterprises, adding that the government is reviewing Ghana’s cooperative legislation to support broader partnerships with labour organisations.
He added that the programme aims to strengthen African economic integration by developing regional production systems, supply chains and trade networks that place workers at the centre of economic development.
