Africa must move beyond raw material exports to value addition – Julius Debrah touts 24-hour economy

Chief of Staff, Dr. Julius Debrah, has highlighted the government’s 24-hour Economy initiative as part of efforts to expand production, promote industrialisation and create opportunities for young people to establish sustainable livelihoods.

He said the programme was intended to create an environment in which businesses could operate more efficiently, expand their activities and generate employment.

Dr. Debrah made the remarks on Monday, October 12, 2026, while delivering an address on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama at the maiden convocation of the University of Offa in Kwara State, Nigeria.

Speaking on the theme, “From Certificate to Enterprise: Africa’s Graduates as Architects of the Continent’s Economic Future,” he urged African countries to focus on production, innovation and value addition to strengthen their economies.

“We in Ghana, have embarked on an ambitious programme to transform our economy by promoting production, industrialisation and enterprise through the implementation of the 24-Hour Economy initiative,” he said.

“The objective is to create an environment in which businesses can operate more efficiently, expand production, create jobs and unlock opportunities for young people,” he added.

Dr. Debrah said economic transformation should provide young people with opportunities to convert their knowledge, skills and ideas into businesses and sustainable livelihoods.

He stressed, however, that graduates also needed an entrepreneurial mindset to take advantage of the opportunities available to them.

“My first message to the graduating class is therefore simple: your certificate is a foundation; it is not a finish line,” he said.

The Chief of Staff argued that governments must support enterprise through quality education, reliable infrastructure, access to finance, predictable regulation, stable institutions and decent employment opportunities.

He also identified access to finance as a critical requirement for turning ideas into viable businesses, warning against encouraging entrepreneurship without providing the necessary support.

“It would be paradoxical to tell young Africans to become entrepreneurs while denying them access to the finance, infrastructure and opportunities required to turn their ideas into reality,” he said.

Dr. Debrah further highlighted the need for Africa to move beyond exporting raw materials and focus on processing and adding value to products from agriculture, minerals, manufacturing, technology and the creative industries.

He said the continent’s economic future depended on developing African solutions to African challenges and strengthening its capacity to determine its own development priorities.

The address also touched on the role of continental financial institutions in supporting Africa’s development ambitions.

Dr Debrah said President Mahama, who serves as the African Union Champion on the AU Financial Institutions, had been advancing efforts to build stronger financial institutions and a financial architecture capable of supporting the continent’s development.