In the last three months, the government has signed bankable agreements worth over $8 billion, marking what officials describe as strong investor confidence in the government’s 24-Hour Economy agenda.

This was revealed by the Chief Export Development Officer at the Ghana 24-Hour Economy Authority, Gabriel Opoku-Asare, during a roundtable discussion on the theme “Unlocking Africa’s Single Market: How Can Ghanaian Businesses Win Under AfCFTA?” on Channel One TV on Thursday, June 11.

He explained that these agreements reflect the government’s drive to position private sector investment as the main driver of the 24-Hour Economy programme, rather than relying heavily on public funding. This approach, he noted, will ease the burden on public finances while accelerating industrial expansion and development along key economic corridors.

“We are enabling private capital in the development of all the projects we are talking about and the economic corridors we are building. Once private capital comes in, our role is coordination and facilitation of investment, so it is not sitting on sovereign debt. That is very important to ensure sustainability in the long term,” he said.

Mr. Opoku-Asare added that the Authority will no longer focus on funding projects with government money. Instead, it will focus on facilitating private sector investment and coordinating stakeholders to support project implementation.

He noted that investors appear confident in the government’s 24-Hour Economy plan and are willing to commit significant capital to its projects.

“I’ve spoken about, in the last 90 days, all the bankable agreements that we’ve signed already, which amount to over $8 billion,” he said.

The 24-Hour Economy is one of the major flagship programmes of President John Mahama during his 2024 campaign. However, following his assumption of office, not much has been heard about the programme’s rollout, except in a few state-owned enterprises, such as the Ghana Publishing Company Limited (GPCL).

Many have questioned the viability of the programme, raising concerns about its financial sustainability, while others have described it as unrealistic. However, the Minister of Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare-Addo, has stated that the programme will be fully operational by the end of 2026.

He made this known during an interview on Nhyira FM on Thursday, January 8, emphasising the government’s commitment to ensuring the successful implementation of the policy.

According to him, the rollout will be gradual rather than immediate, as the long-standing eight-hour workday system will take time to transition into a round-the-clock shift arrangement.

“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,” he stated.

He continued, “Anyone being honest will see that progress is being made. Changing the structure of the economy is not a one-time event; it is a process that takes time to unfold. We are clearly on track, and by the end of this year, we expect to see significant progress in the implementation of the 24-hour economy.”

About the 24-Hour Economy

The government’s 24-Hour Economy policy, a key promise during President John Mahama’s 2024 campaign, was officially launched on Wednesday, July 2, 2025.

The policy aims to enhance economic productivity by encouraging businesses to operate continuously, thereby creating more jobs, boosting revenue generation, and improving service delivery.

Sectors such as manufacturing, transportation, retail, healthcare, hospitality, and financial services are expected to benefit significantly from this model.

Presenting the policy to the Speaker of Parliament, Kingsford Sumana Alban Bagbin, last year in July, Presidential Advisor on the 24-Hour Economy policy, Mr. Goosie Tanoh, said the initiative was intended to formally brief “the people’s representatives” on the government’s readiness to roll out the programme.

He explained that the policy is structured around three main pillars: production transformation, supply chain and market efficiency, and human capital development. These are supported by eight sub-programmes.

“Roll 24 – which is the agricultural component; Make 24 – the manufacturing component; Connect 24 – the supply chain component; Aspire 24 – the mindset change component, aimed at resetting the Ghanaian workforce and bureaucracy with a strong productivity culture,” he explained.

According to him, the government also plans to integrate strong digital technology training into the TVET curriculum to equip young people with skills needed for employment opportunities.