President John Dramani Mahama has announced that the government is ready to implement its flagship 24-Hour Economy Policy, a transformative initiative aimed at boosting job creation, industrialisation, and inclusive economic growth.

Speaking at a multi-sectoral stakeholder engagement at the Jubilee House, President Mahama revealed that he has reviewed the final draft of the policy framework and affirmed that the government is now prepared to launch full-scale implementation.

“I have reviewed it, and I’m confident we now have a coherent and actionable framework to deliver the results,” the President stated. “A stable macroeconomic environment is a key catalyst for this policy—and we are achieving that through strong coordination between monetary and fiscal authorities.”

As part of the rollout, a 24-Hour Economy Secretariat will be established to coordinate and oversee implementation. President Mahama said the secretariat would be structured as an independent authority, reporting directly to the Presidency and backed by legislation currently under consideration in Parliament.

“To guarantee institutional stability, I’m working with Parliament to establish the Secretariat as an independent authority, supported by law,” he noted.

A standout feature of the policy is the development of the Volta Lake Economic Corridor, which will transform the lake into a strategic national logistics and production zone.

“This corridor, centred on the Volta Lake and Volta Basin, will become a national production zone and logistics hub,” Mahama declared. “We plan to cultivate over two million hectares of arable lakeside land, revamp fisheries, and create industrial parks to serve domestic and regional markets.”

The plan also includes investments in floating transportation assets, new lake ports, and long-term public-private partnerships to ease pressure on Ghana’s congested road networks.

“The lake will serve as a transport highway—moving food, people, and goods more efficiently,” he added.

The 24-Hour Economy Policy identifies priority value chains in each region—including agro-processing, pharmaceuticals, textiles, light manufacturing, tourism, digital services, and the creative economy. Specific bottlenecks in these sectors will be addressed with tailored solutions.

“This is more than a vision—it’s a structured plan designed for job creation and inclusive growth,” Mahama said.

Infrastructure development will be spearheaded by the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF), focusing on building industrial parks, logistics hubs, and transport upgrades. Financing will be supported by the Development Bank of Ghana and Venture Capital Trust Fund, which will provide targeted financing for SMEs, cooperatives, and agribusinesses.

To improve land access and reduce investor uncertainty, the government will create zoned and titled land banks, ready for industrial use. Additionally, a youth skills development initiative, Aspire24, will train young people for shift-based employment, digital economy roles, and entrepreneurship.

Mahama emphasised that the policy’s implementation would be decentralised, allowing districts to shape their own development strategies based on local strengths.

“This is not a top-down approach. Each district will form a 24-hour implementation task force aligned with local economic development policies,” he said.

The final draft of the programme will be released for public consultation on Tuesday, with the official launch scheduled for July 1—Ghana’s Republic Day, a date President Mahama described as symbolically significant for ushering in a bold new national agenda.

“This is no longer just a campaign promise. It’s a sequenced, inclusive, and actionable plan—and its implementation has begun,” Mahama concluded.