Over 400 firms running 24 hours – 24-hour Economy Secretariat

More than 412 companies across Ghana have commenced round-the-clock operations under the government’s 24-Hour Economy initiative, the Secretariat has confirmed.

According to Ishmael Nii Amanor Dodoo, Head of Innovative Finance, Partnership, and Markets for the 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Development Export Secretariat, about 80 percent of these businesses are operating three shifts daily, while the remaining 20 percent run one or two shifts.

Speaking on the progress of the programme, dubbed “The Big Agenda,” Mr. Dodoo explained that participating companies include both Brownfield and Greenfield projects, with manufacturing firms making up the majority. Smaller enterprises, typically SMEs, often operate on shorter shifts.

The Secretariat head also highlighted a proposed incentive voucher for off-peak electricity use, aimed at reducing operational costs for businesses in the initiative. “The policy is designed to create thousands of jobs while reducing import volumes. Investors have also started funding Captive Energy systems for these companies, aiming to provide electricity at 5–7 cents per kilowatt-hour, with the national grid backing them during any challenges,” he said. He noted that analysis of off-peak electricity consumption shows variations depending on location and population density.

Mr. Dodoo added that additional incentives are being designed to support participating firms, and projected that by the end of 2028, thousands more companies would operate 24 hours a day, driving economic growth and creating new employment opportunities nationwide.

The programme received a significant boost when President John Dramani Mahama, on Thursday, February 17, 2026, assented to the 24-Hour Economy Authority Bill, 2025, in a brief ceremony. President Mahama described the Bill as a flagship strategy for economic transformation, explaining that due diligence was necessary to give the initiative legal effect.

“Now we must move from strategy to implementation. The business sector is waiting, Ghanaian investors are waiting, foreign investors are waiting. They want to see the package of incentives we can afford, so they can invest more, expand productivity, and create more employment for our young people. It is my pleasure to assent to this Bill today,” he said.

The Bill establishes the 24-Hour Economy Authority as the central coordinating body to implement the policy, aligning public and private sector efforts while addressing infrastructure and regulatory needs. With the legislation in place and more companies joining the initiative, the government expects the 24-Hour Economy to become a key driver of jobs and sustainable economic growth in Ghana.