Goosie Tanoh explains rationale behind 24-Hour Economy initiative

The Presidential Advisor on the 24-Hour Economy, Mr. Augustus Goosie Obuodum Tanoh, has said that the 24-Hour Economy is, at its heart, a productivity programme.

He says it is the President’s instrument for raising what this country produces, “what we earn from what we produce, and the number of Ghanaians who hold productive work.”

He noted that Ghana’s economy is not constrained by ambition. It is constrained by productivity.

He added that the actories run at capacity utilisation well below installed potential.The Presidential Advisor on the 24-Hour Economy, Augustus Goosie Obuodum Tanoh, has described the 24-Hour Economy initiative as fundamentally a productivity-driven programme aimed at boosting national output, improving earnings, and expanding access to productive employment.

He explained that the policy is the government’s key instrument for increasing what Ghana produces, how much is earned from production, and the number of citizens engaged in meaningful work.

According to him, Ghana’s economic challenge is not a lack of ambition but low productivity, noting that many factories operate far below their installed capacity.

He made the remarks during the launch of a pilot 24-hour operations programme in the petroleum downstream sector in Accra on Tuesday, May 12.

“Our farmers lose value because there is no offtake or processing close to where they grow. Our infrastructure idles for hours that other economies use to produce. We are running the economy on a single shift in a world that runs on three,” he said.

Mr. Tanoh added that bridging this gap is central to the 24-Hour Economy agenda, which seeks to increase output per worker, raise incomes, and create sufficient employment opportunities to absorb the estimated 310,000 young people entering Ghana’s labour market annually.

He noted that the petroleum downstream sector has been chosen as one of the earliest pilot areas due to its critical role in supporting all other sectors of the economy.

“The petroleum sector sits beneath every productive activity in this country — agro-processing in Ashanti, manufacturing in Tema, cocoa logistics on the Eastern Corridor, and the cold chain that carries perishables to the ports,” he said.

He explained that disruptions in fuel supply can directly affect production across multiple industries, stressing that continuous availability of petroleum products is essential for economic expansion.

“When a depot closes at six in the evening and the next loading slot is at eight in the morning, that is fourteen hours in which the productive economy above it cannot expand,” he stated.

Mr. Tanoh said the downstream sector pilot, being implemented in collaboration with the National Petroleum Authority, will help ensure that other sectors can extend their operating hours and improve productivity.

Chief Executive of the National Petroleum Authority, Godwin Edudzi Tameklo, announced that the 24-hour operations in the petroleum downstream sector will be rolled out in phases.

He said the initial phase will cover selected facilities in four regions: Greater Accra, Ashanti, Western, and Northern.

According to him, the rollout will include 268 fuel stations, eight depots—including BOST Depot (Kumasi), APD (Tema), TTF (Tema), TFC (Tema), Vana Energy (Tema), Quantum Terminals (Tema), Ghanstock Depot (Takoradi), Zen Terminals (Takoradi)—as well as two refineries: the Tema Oil Refinery and Sentuo Oil Refinery.

He explained that the phased approach will allow the Authority to test systems, refine operational processes, and ensure a safe and sustainable transition.

Mr. Tameklo added that modern technology will be deployed for real-time monitoring, alongside the introduction of structured workforce systems to support the 24-hour operations.

He emphasized that safety and security will remain a top priority, with close collaboration between National Security, the Ghana Police Service, the Ghana National Fire Service, and other relevant agencies.

He further disclosed that the Inspector-General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohuno, has pledged full support for the initiative, particularly in strengthening security arrangements required for continuous operations.

According to him, effective 24-hour operations in the petroleum sector will depend heavily on strong security coordination to ensure the safety of facilities and personnel.

Speaking during the lauch of the pilot or 24-hour operations in the petroleum downstream, in Accra on Tuesday, May 12, he said, “Our farmers lose value because there is no offtake or processing close to where they grow. Our infrastructure idles for hours that other economies use to produce. We are running the economy on a single shift in a world that runs on three.”

He further stated that “Closing that gap is what the 24-Hour Economy is built to do — to raise output per worker, to lift incomes, and to generate the kind of paid, productive work that begins to absorb the 310,000 young Ghanaians who enter the labour market every year. And it is why we begin in the petroleum downstream.”

He said that the petroleum sector sits beneath every productive activity in this country — agro-processing in Ashanti, manufacturing in Tema, cocoa logistics on the Eastern Corridor, the cold chain that carries perishables to the ports.

“All of it runs on fuel that must be available when production needs it,” he said.

“When a depot closes at six in the evening and the next loading slot is at eight in the morning, that is fourteen hours in which the productive economy above it cannot expand.

“We cannot ask the sectors above the downstream to extend their operating day if the supply chain beneath them cannot. The petroleum downstream is therefore one of our earliest and most important pilots, and starting today, alongside the NPA, we are turning it into the sector that enables every other sector to expand the work it can do, the goods it can produce, and the workforce it can carry,” he said.

The CEO of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Godwin Edudzi Tameklo, has announced that the 24-hour operations in the petroleum downstream will be rolled out in phases.

He said it will begin with selected facilities across four regions of Ghana namely: Greater Accra, Ashanti, Western and Northern regions.

he said “It will cover 268 fuel stations across the four regions, eight depots, namely BOST Depot, Kumasi; APD, Tema; TTF, Tema; TFC, Tema; Vana Energy, Tema; Quantum Terminals, Tema; Ghanstock Depot, Takoradi, and Zen Terminals, Takoradi, and two refineries, namely Tema Oil Refinery and SentuoOil Refinery.”

He further stated that this phased approach will enable the authority to test systems, refine operational models, and ensure that the transition is efficient, safe, and sustainable.

Central to this effort , he said, will be the deployment of modern technology for real-time monitoring and the introduction of structured workforce.

“Let me emphasize that safety and security will remain paramount. We will continue to work closely with institutions such as the National Security, Ghana Police Service, Ghana National Fire Service, and other relevant agencies to ensure that all participating facilities operate under the highest security protection and safety standards,” he said.

He further announced that the Inspector General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohuno, has pledged his support for the introduction of 24-Hour operations in the petroleum downstream sector.

Edudzi Tameklo stated that running a 24 Hour operation in the petroleum sector reqires top notch security, hence the support from the Police.

“What it means to you need to firm up your security. IGP Christian Tetteh Yohunu has fully pledged this support for teh role out odf this initiative.”