Government will allocate GH¢110 million in 2026 to advance the nationwide rollout of the 24-Hour Economy Programme, Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson told Parliament on Thursday as he presented the 2026 Budget Statement and Economic Policy.
Dr. Forson said the initiative — formally launched on 2 July 2025 — has now entered full implementation under the broader 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme (24H+), which he described as a catalyst for industrial expansion with the potential to create “over 1.7 million jobs by 2028.”
According to the Minister, the policy seeks to stimulate round-the-clock economic activity by encouraging industries, services, and businesses to operate beyond traditional working hours.
“The 24-Hour Economy aims to boost productivity, expand exports, and create sustainable jobs,” he told Parliament, adding that its financing will be supported by the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF), the Development Bank Ghana (DBG), and private capital to limit pressure on government finances.
The policy was a central theme of President John Mahama’s 2024 campaign and remains a cornerstone of his administration’s plans for inclusive growth and economic modernisation.
A major pillar of the programme is the development of the Volta Lake Economic Corridor, which government envisions as a national hub for production, transport, and logistics. The plan includes cultivating more than two million hectares of arable land along the Volta Basin, reviving the inland fisheries sector, and establishing industrial parks to serve both domestic and regional markets.
Dr. Forson said the policy also places strong emphasis on skills development, access to finance, and women’s economic empowerment, particularly in rural communities.
Priority sectors include agro-processing, pharmaceuticals, textiles, light manufacturing, ICT, and the creative economy, all expected to benefit from the shift to a 24-hour production and services model.
