Ghana’s government is accelerating implementation of its transformative 24‑Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme, positioning the policy as a central engine for job creation, expanded productivity and export growth throughout 2026. The cabinet has now approved legislation to establish a statutory 24‑Hour Economy Authority, an institutional step intended to strengthen coordination, regulation and incentives for businesses engaging in round‑the‑clock operations.
President John Dramani Mahama announced the government’s move to transform the existing 24‑Hour Economy Secretariat into a full authority during a visit to the Ghana Publishing Company. The change is designed to enable structured implementation of the initiative, which seeks to extend production and services beyond the traditional eight‑hour workday. “I’m happy to note that the committee has finished considering it and it’s supposed to go onto the floor of Parliament to set up the 24‑Hour Authority, which would then open the way for implementation and registration of all the businesses that will be involved in the 24‑Hour economy initiative,” the President said.
The 24‑Hour Economy policy was initially launched nationwide in July 2025 as part of a broader economic reset to expand the productive base of the economy, improve manufacturing, strengthen logistics operations and transform export performance. Ghana’s policymakers say that beyond extending hours of operation, the initiative supports structural change by encouraging private sector‑led innovation and investment across sectors.
Government officials and analysts say the formal establishment of the 24‑Hour Economy Authority will help streamline incentives, including tax breaks and financing opportunities, that encourage companies to adopt extended operating models. Part of the implementation strategy is built around partnerships between government, banks, private sector actors and local governments to support SMEs, exporters and core infrastructure providers.
Minister of Youth Development and Empowerment George Opare‑Addo emphasised that the policy’s full rollout will take time, noting that transforming the entrenched eight‑hour system into a 24‑hour operational model requires legislative backing, structural changes and coordinated directives across government agencies. In an interview on Nhyira FM, he said, “Changing the entire structure of an economy that has been in place for years, from an 8‑hour to a 24‑hour system, cannot happen in less than 12 months. It requires legislative measures and directives, and those processes are underway.”
Key sectors such as manufacturing, services, logistics and agriculture are expected to benefit as companies adjust systems to run extended shifts, processes and distribution models. Logistics and port operations have been highlighted as early success areas. Stakeholders at the Tema Port, Ghana’s busiest maritime hub, expressed readiness for extended operations during consultations last year, suggesting that around‑the‑clock trade facilitation could significantly reduce turnaround times for vessels and improve Ghana’s competitiveness in regional markets.
Dr Frank Agyire‑Tetteh, a representative of the 24‑Hour Economy Secretariat and an economist, said at a panel discussion during the University of Ghana’s 77th Annual New Year School that structures for full implementation are now in place and that lands have been acquired along strategic corridors for logistical and industrial development. He stressed that success will depend on microeconomic stability to ensure integrated production across value chains.
The policy’s link to export growth was outlined by President Mahama at the launch event, where he described the strategy as part of a shift from raw commodity exports towards value‑added goods and services, which the government hopes will strengthen economic resilience and create jobs. This emphasis on diversification comes amid broader economic reforms aimed at boosting foreign exchange‑earning sectors such as agro‑processing, light manufacturing, horticulture and textiles.
International partners have also publicly highlighted the policy’s potential. Robert Taliercio O’Brien, Country Director for the World Bank in Ghana, said earlier assessments show that the 24‑Hour Economy, along with broader structural reform programmes, could significantly reduce poverty and help triple per capita income over time if implemented effectively. “Our research shows that with ambitious reforms, Ghana could more than triple per capita income by 2050, moving it decisively toward upper‑middle‑income status,” Mr Taliercio O’Brien said at a policy event.
Despite broad political and business support, some analysts have urged continuous evaluation of infrastructure readiness, workforce capacity and energy provision to ensure that extended hours translate into meaningful economic gains rather than operational strain. Implementing the policy successfully will require collaboration across multiple ministries, the private sector and local governments to ensure that extended operations are backed by reliable power, security support and efficient transport networks.
As 2026 unfolds, Ghana’s 24‑Hour Economy initiative is positioned as a core policy driving national productivity, job creation and export diversification. Its progress and impact on employment, business growth and competitiveness will be closely watched by investors, industry leaders and policymakers seeking to build a more resilient Ghanaian economy.
