24-Hour Economy will transform Ghana into industrial hub – Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama proclaimed during a speech at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 24 that Ghana's 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme would be key to transforming the nation into an industrial powerhouse. The programme is part of the broader "Resetting Ghana Agenda", a plan aiming to stabilize the economy, develop infrastructure, industrialize, and create jobs.

The government is pushing for policies that promote 24-hour commercial activity, as well as expanding value addition in agriculture and mining sectors. "Our flagship 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme, alongside the soon-to-be-launched 'New Ghana, New Economy' policy, is reshaping Ghana into an industrial, high-productivity hub," Mahama asserted.

The strategy aims to generate sustainable employment for Ghana's youthful and female populations while enhancing the economic value derived from the nation's natural resources. Incentives are being offered for continuous commercial operations, enhanced agriculture and mining value addition, and the creation of stable, respectable jobs for the energetic youth and women.

The initiative is interconnected with the government's wider infrastructure plan, encompassing roads, educational institutions, healthcare facilities, and digital connectivity. These investments are expected to narrow the rural-urban gap and unlock economic prospects. Mahama emphasized that economic growth should be judged by its effects on citizens, particularly through job creation, provision of essential services, and enhancement of living standards.