President John Dramani Mahama has announced that the government will officially launch its flagship 24-Hour Economy Policy in July, with plans to activate the Volta Lake as a major national logistics and transport corridor.
Speaking during a multi-sectoral engagement at the Jubilee House, President Mahama disclosed that the final draft of the policy has been reviewed and is ready for implementation.
“I have reviewed it, and I’m confident we now have a coherent and actionable framework to deliver results,” he said. “A stable macroeconomic environment is key to the success of the 24-hour economy, and we are achieving this through strong coordination between monetary and fiscal authorities.”
To coordinate the rollout, the government will establish a 24-Hour Economy Secretariat. Mahama revealed that steps are being taken to formalise the secretariat as an independent authority, reporting directly to the presidency and backed by legislation.
A major feature of the policy is the transformation of the Volta Lake and its basin into an economic corridor. The plan includes cultivating over two million hectares of arable lakeside land, revitalising the fishery sector, and creating industrial parks to serve both local and regional markets.
“The lake will serve as a transport highway, efficiently moving food, people, and goods—relieving pressure on our congested road networks,” Mahama explained. Investments in floating assets, lake ports, and strategic partnerships are planned to support this initiative.
The 24-Hour Economy Policy aims to drive job creation and inclusive growth. It identifies priority value chains such as agro-processing, pharmaceuticals, textiles, light manufacturing, tourism, digital services, and the creative economy. Each sector will benefit from targeted solutions to existing bottlenecks.
Infrastructure development will be spearheaded by the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund, which will lead the construction of industrial parks, logistics hubs, and transport upgrades. Financial support will be provided through the Development Bank of Ghana and the Venture Capital Trust Fund to enhance SME participation across value chains.
Additionally, land and workforce development are integral to the plan. Mahama announced the creation of investment-ready land banks and the launch of Aspire24, a sub-program to train youth for shift-based jobs, digital careers, and entrepreneurship.
Implementation will be decentralised, with each district forming its own task force under the local assembly to align with regional development priorities.
“This is not a top-down approach,” Mahama stressed. “Each region will drive its own industrial transformation based on its unique strengths.”
The draft programme document is scheduled for public release on Tuesday, with the official launch planned for Republic Day in July.
“This is no longer just an idea,” Mahama concluded. “It is a structured, sequenced, and inclusive plan—and we are ready to begin implementation.”
The 24-Hour Economy Policy was a central promise in Mahama’s 2024 campaign and is now set to become a cornerstone of his administration’s economic transformation agenda.