President John Dramani Mahama has highlighted the tangible progress made in implementing his signature 24-hour Economy policy, a key driver for job creation and structural transformation, during his national address marking the completion of his first 120 days in office on Wednesday, May 7th.
The 24-hour Economy program aims to revamp critical sectors like agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism, fostering a resilient and dynamic economic landscape.
President Mahama emphasized that the program’s rollout has commenced with significant momentum, with collaborative efforts between the Secretariat, Development Bank Ghana, and the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund to operationalize financing pillars.
President Mahama during his address to the country outlined nine concrete actions taken so far to operationalise the policy:
GIPC 24-Hour Premium Services: The Ghana Investment Promotion Centre has launched 24-hour Premium Services to expedite investor processing.
24/7 Passport Services: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has introduced a 24-hour passport service at the Passport Application Headquarters.
DVLA Backlog Clearance: The DVLA utilized a 24-hour service to clear an 18-month license backlog and will soon open a new 24-hour service office in Adenta.
YEA Graduates in Corporate Support (GRICS): The Youth Employment Agency (YEA) is launching the GRICS program, attaching 20,000 graduates to 24-hour operating firms.
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YEA Security Partnership: YEA is partnering with security agencies to provide security for 24-hour firms, training and deploying 23,000 recruits.
24-Hour Police Unit: The Police Service is establishing a 24-hour police unit to enhance night patrols with technology-supported nationwide sensitization.
Smart Metering Tariff: The Energy Ministry is engaging PURC for smart metering with Time of Use (ToU) tariffs, incentivizing off-peak operations.
Business Incentives: The Finance Ministry and Presidential Advisor are finalizing incentives for businesses joining the 24-hour initiative.
24-Hour Printing: The Ghana Publishing Company Limited has commenced 24-hour printing operations.
President Mahama stated that these initiatives demonstrate his administration’s commitment to creating new job avenues, expanding employment opportunities for
young graduates, and empowering the private sector as a catalyst for sustainable job creation.
