President John Dramani Mahama’s administration has moved a step closer to institutionalising its ambitious 24-Hour Economy agenda with plans to establish a dedicated 24-Hour Economy Authority to coordinate and regulate the policy’s nationwide implementation.
The proposed Authority, unveiled during President Mahama’s visit to the Ghana Publishing Company on 8 January, is conceived as the central body to oversee the rollout of Ghana’s flagship 24-Hour Economy initiative; a cornerstone of the government’s broader economic transformation strategy.
According to the President, a parliamentary committee has finalised its review of the initiative’s framework and will soon present a bill to Parliament to formally establish the Authority. Once operational, the Authority is expected to register participating businesses, define operational guidelines, and administer incentives designed to encourage enterprises to operate around the clock.
The 24-Hour Economy policy, first launched in mid-2025 as part of Mahama’s “national reset” agenda, is focused on boosting productivity, accelerating exports, expanding employment opportunities, and stimulating continuous economic activity across sectors such as manufacturing, logistics, agriculture and services.
Government officials say the full realisation of the 24-Hour Economy will require structural shifts away from the traditional eight-hour workday and significant legislative, infrastructural and regulatory reforms. The Minister of Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare-Addo, has indicated that full implementation of the model will likely extend through the end of 2026, given the scale of transformation envisaged.
Supporters of the policy highlight its potential to position Ghana as a competitive production and logistics hub in West Africa, attract foreign and domestic investment, and generate much-needed jobs for a youthful workforce. Critics, however, have warned that the vision may be overly aspirational without robust planning and clear execution timelines.
If approved by Parliament, the 24-Hour Economy Authority will replace the existing secretariat and become the principal institutional driver of continuous economic activity, with the mandate to ensure compliance, enforce standards, and manage incentive schemes that underpin the round-the-clock economy model.
Author: Edem Latsu Nukafu
Edem Latsu Nukafu, a passionate communications professional dedicated to public relations, journalism, media strategy, and content development. He holds both a Diploma and Bachelor of Arts Degree in Communication Studies (Public Relations) from the University of Media, Arts and Communication – UniMAC-IJ. A member of Ghana Journalists Association (GJA).
