By: Celestine Avi and Seth Eyiah
President John Dramani Mahama says the newly established 24-Hour Economy Authority will anchor what he describes as a productivity revolution in Ghana’s manufacturing and industrial sectors.
Speaking at the Presidential Dialogue with the Private Sector in Accra, he explained that the policy is designed to ensure continuous production across key industries, allowing factories to operate three shifts a day in order to maximize the use of capital, infrastructure and labour.
According to him, Ghana cannot achieve rapid industrial growth if expensive machinery and factory plants remain idle for long hours.
The President noted that moving toward a 24-hour production model would significantly increase output, reduce unit production costs and enhance the competitiveness of Ghanaian goods both locally and internationally. He stressed that productivity, not just stability, must become the next frontier of Ghana’s economic transformation.
To support the transition, President Mahama outlined a package of incentives including shift-based operational support, off-peak electricity tariffs to reduce energy costs at night, improved industrial security arrangements, and targeted tax exemptions on machinery and equipment for factory expansion.
He added that the Authority would coordinate closely with ministries, the Bank of Ghana and investment agencies to remove bureaucratic bottlenecks that slow industrial growth.
He further indicated that the initiative aligns with Ghana’s strategic positioning under the African Continental Free Trade Area, headquartered in Accra. By expanding round-the-clock production, he said, Ghanaian manufacturers would be better placed to supply regional markets, scale up exports and compete effectively within West Africa and beyond.
President Mahama assured the private sector that government is committed to providing the policy certainty, reliable power supply and infrastructure support required to make the 24-hour economy sustainable. He urged businesses to embrace the opportunity by investing in expansion, upgrading skills and maintaining high production standards.
“The Ghana we seek will not be built by rhetoric,” he emphasized. “It will be built by factories operating at scale; day and night producing for Ghana, Africa and the world.”
