In a bold declaration of intent, President of the Republic of Ghana, H.E John Dramani Mahama, has announced that Ghana has “moved from slogan to strategy” as he launched the much-anticipated 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme at the Accra International Conference Centre on Wednesday, 2nd June.
Describing the initiative as “more than a policy” and “a national reset,” the President said the twin programme represents a strategic shift to unlock Ghana’s full productive potential. At the heart of the initiative is a vision to create a self-reliant, industrial, and inclusive Ghana, grounded in productivity, innovation, and equitable prosperity.
“Today, we reclaim our founders’ vision,” the President proclaimed. “A vision of an African nation that works with organized creativity and ensures prosperity for all.”
According to President Mahama, the origins of the 24-Hour Economy vision and the accelerated export agenda were forged from deep reflection during and after his previous term in office. Between 2016 and 2020, he noted, it became “increasingly clear” that Ghana — like many African countries — was “trapped in a model of unequal exchange.”
“We export raw materials — cocoa, gold, timber, oil — only to repurchase them as chocolate, jewellery, furniture, and fuel at a far greater cost,” he lamented. “This model has never served our people. It creates jobs abroad, boosts foreign healthcare systems, and educates foreign children — while our youth remain unemployed and our industries stagnate.”
President Mahama pointed to this fundamental imbalance as the root cause of Ghana’s economic underperformance and ballooning import bill. To address this, he said, the government had spent years laying the foundation — building roads, energy systems, ICT infrastructure, and investing in human capital — but more was needed.
The new initiative, he emphasized, represents an integrated and coherent national strategy aimed at breaking down the fragmented, silo-based policy approaches of the past. The 24-Hour Economy plan promotes round-the-clock productivity in key sectors, while the Accelerated Export Development Programme aims to reduce Ghana’s dependence on imports by processing raw materials domestically and growing value-added exports.
This, President Mahama explained, is what the “Training for Our Plus” programme seeks to achieve — an ambitious workforce development scheme to upskill thousands of young Ghanaians for modern industrial and service jobs.
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“We knew we needed to go further,” the President said. “And that meant a bold and integrated approach — a true national strategy that connects our workforce, our industries, and our infrastructure.”
Mahama called on all stakeholders — from organized labour and private industry to civil society and international partners — to rally behind the initiative, describing it as a national movement for transformation.
“This is not a slogan. This is a strategic shift,” he reiterated. “We are building a Ghana where productivity does not sleep, where exports drive our prosperity, and where our young people can dream and achieve right here at home.”
The launch was attended by senior government officials, members of the diplomatic corps, business leaders, labour unions, and youth representatives — all of whom were urged to become champions of the 24-Hour Economy vision.
As Ghana takes this bold step, eyes across the continent are watching to see if Mahama’s renewed push for economic sovereignty and inclusive industrialization will become a model for Africa’s next phase of growth.
Ghana|Atinkaonline.com|Ebenezer Madugu
