President John Dramani Mahama has provided deeper insight into his flagship 24-Hour Economy policy, describing it as both a long-term national aspiration and a strategic programme to boost productivity, create jobs, and drive economic transformation.
Speaking at a stakeholder engagement session in Accra, Mahama clarified the conceptual foundation of the initiative, urging Ghanaians to view it through a broader developmental lens.
“Let me begin by offering a clear lens to understand the 24-hour vision. It is both a destination and a programme,” he stated.
He explained that as a national destination, the 24-Hour Economy represents a future where Ghana’s economic engines will run round the clock, maximizing output and efficiency across all sectors.
“As a destination, the 24-hour economy reflects a state where Ghana’s productivity and capital utilisation will become so high that we will operate in multiple shifts across day and night, maximizing the return on infrastructure, human resources, and innovation,” he noted.
Mahama emphasized that realising this goal would require a radical rethinking of the country’s economic structure. According to him, Ghana must transition from a system heavily dependent on raw material exports to one that prioritizes value addition and innovation.
“We must reengineer our productive systems from top to bottom—boosting volumes and diversity—and shift from reliance on raw materials towards the export of value-added products, wholesome foods, pharmaceuticals, garments, industrial inputs, and digital services,” he said.
The former president’s comments come amid ongoing national discussions on job creation, industrialisation, and how to reposition Ghana in the global economy. His vision for a 24-Hour Economy has been central to his campaign message, promising a transformative shift in how the country works, produces, and competes internationally.
