Ghana’s 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme aims to create 1.7 million productive jobs by 2028. This projection comes from Augustus Goosie Tanoh, Presidential Adviser on the initiative. The programme seeks to rebalance Ghana’s economy, moving away from a primarily service-oriented growth model.
The initiative has already secured significant private capital commitments for key sectors. Four major agreements signed within 90 days are expected to generate over 160,000 jobs. These projects include a large-scale solar farm and an oil palm anchor project.
This programme forms the second pillar of Ghana’s economic recovery strategy under President Mahama. It addresses the imbalance in Ghana's growth, where services contribute nearly 60% and industry only about 12% to the economy. The goal is to expand productive capacity, extend operating hours, improve logistics, and attract investments into job-creating industries.
Speaking at the Ghana Diaspora Townhall Meeting in London, Mr. Tanoh stated these projects are moving from promise to implementation. He referenced the Buipe Solar Farm in the Savannah Region, a GHS 20.3 billion (US$1.45 billion) facility, which should create 13,000 jobs. This project also promises to deliver the lowest industrial electricity tariff Ghana has experienced.
Another key project is the Kambonwule Oil Palm Anchor Project, valued at GHS 4.2 billion (US$300 million). This initiative is expected to generate 120,000 jobs. It will also help reduce Ghana’s vegetable oil import deficit. The Bioenergy and Biofuels Programme, located at Buipe and Damanko, is projected to create 30,000 jobs. This programme could save Ghana GHS 6.3 billion (US$450 million) annually in foreign exchange.
Mr. Tanoh also indicated that the Tamale Air Cargo Hub has been designated for two operators. Operations at this hub are anticipated to commence in 2027. These employment estimates do not account for indirect and induced jobs, which can significantly multiply the total impact.
Ghana’s recent economic performance has shown encouraging signs. Inflation has dropped to 3.4%, its lowest in over four years, after 15 months of consecutive decline. The Bank of Ghana policy rate has also been reduced from 28% to 14%. International reserves stand at GHS 203 billion (US$14.5 billion), providing nearly six months of import cover. Public debt has declined from a peak of 92.4% of GDP to about 48%, with the economy growing by 6% in 2025.
Despite these improvements, Mr. Tanoh cautioned that growth remains unbalanced. The services sector largely drives this growth, while industrial growth was only 2.3%. The 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme directly aims to close this gap. Other initiatives mentioned include the Volta Lake Transport System and the National Poultry Programme.
The programme also seeks to leverage Ghanaian diaspora remittances. These remittances reached a record GHS 109.2 billion (US$7.8 billion) in 2025, up from GHS 56 billion (US$4 billion) six years prior. The United Kingdom is a major source of these funds, second only to the United States. Converting a portion of these flows into long-term productive investments is a key challenge.
The success of the programme will rely on effective implementation. Ghana has a history of announcing industrial transformation plans, often constrained by financing gaps, weak coordination, and policy inconsistency. The real measure of success will be whether theoretical agreements become operational factories, farms, and sustainable jobs before 2028. The adviser’s message to the diaspora was clear: "Your country is ready for you."