The Presidential Advisor on the 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development, Augustus Goosie Tanoh, has provided a comprehensive vision, progress and promise of the NDC government’s flagship 24-hour program.
Speaking on behalf of the team that shaped the program during the launch of the program at the Accra International Conference Centre, the Presidential Advisor laid bare the scope, structure, and intent behind what he described as “a simple, sensible program with substantial upsides.
According to him, the program has the potential to redefine Ghana’s socio-economic trajectory and empower every sector with round-the-clock productivity.
Mr Tanoh’s speech, delivered with the precision of a statesman and the conviction of a nation-builder, opened with a nod to the diverse contributors behind the policy.
He detailed the structure of the new framework, which has been carefully packaged into multiple accessible formats: a comprehensive full version, an executive summary, and eight sub-program books.
Each of these sub-programs, he explained, is self-contained yet interlinked, allowing stakeholders to grasp the policy holistically or engage with specific areas like infrastructure, commerce, agriculture, or digital transformation.
Importantly, the communication plan for the program includes simplified summaries, animated guides, and translations into Ghanaian languages through collaboration with the Bureau of Ghana Languages.
“Ladies and gentlemen, we are now in implementation mode. We have divided the program into around 50 separate commercial, institutional, and social projects. We are writing concept notes for the first 20 of these projects.
“These concept notes have so far been our primary tools for engaging with institutional stakeholders, including local and foreign entrepreneurs, financiers, donors, contractors, CSOs, MDAs, MMDAs, community leaders, youth leaders, and others”.
Augustus Goosie Tanoh, Presidential Advisor on the 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development
These notes, Mr Tanoh added, will be made publicly accessible via the program’s website, reinforcing the transparency and inclusiveness of the effort.
For him, what truly sets the program apart, however, is its interlinkage with existing governmental initiatives and its nationwide ambition. “We are aligning our projects with current and planned government initiatives to minimise overlaps and increase synergy”, he remarked.
He highlighted the active collaboration with the Ministry of Agribusiness, Trade, and Industry, under the leadership of Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu Adjare, in shaping a new textiles and garments policy and identifying decentralised industrial zones.
The goal, according to Mr Tanoh, is to industrialise Ghana equitably, ensuring that development is not restricted to Accra or Tema but spread across all viable regions.
Volta Lake Economic Corridor
Another flagship area is the Volta Lake Economic Corridor. Mr Tanoh disclosed that negotiations are underway with the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund, Volta River Authority, and relevant ministries to structure concession regimes.
The proposals under consideration are aimed at simplifying investment incentives, eliminating arbitrary discretion in state approvals, and increasing the automation of administrative processes to boost investor confidence.
Alongside this, the Presidential Advisor also noted that feasibility studies are underway to ensure that priority commercial projects are investment-ready before the end of the year. Encouragingly, Mr Tanoh noted that some of these projects already have “bankable feasibility.”
He emphasized the importance of funding mechanisms such as the SME on-lending platform and the value chain lending scheme, developed in collaboration with the Capital Trust Fund and Ghana Exim Bank, to fuel the 24-Hour Economy’s rollout across all productive sectors.
In reinforcing the program’s foundational principles, Mr Tanoh underscored that even areas like mindset change, digital fluency, and grassroots governance—captured in Aspire 24 and Goal 24—are not afterthoughts.
“Everything is integrated,” he emphasised, adding that the ambition is not only to extend working hours and economic output but to build “a truly participatory democracy that functions effectively at the national, district, and sub-district levels.”
Transition to Authority
One of the most consequential revelations was Mr Tanoh’s confirmation that the 24-Hour Economy Program will soon be formalized into a statutory authority.
The necessary legislation, he revealed, is already being finalised for transmission to Parliament. “We have made a significant leap towards our goal,” he said, though cautioning that “we are early in the long journey that the President has described.”
Reflecting on the developmental process, Mr Tanoh was full of praise for the young and vibrant team that worked from January to May 2025 to draft and refine the policy. He proudly recounted the age range of the team—spanning from 24 to 69 years—while humorously clarifying that he was not the oldest member.
“I am personally grateful to every member of the Secretariat for your faith in Ghana, your long nights, your imagination, your competence, and your rigour”.
Augustus Goosie Tanoh, Presidential Advisor on the 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development
Still, the Secretariat, he admitted, stands on the shoulders of a larger collective. Mr Tanoh was emphatic in acknowledging the visionary leadership of President John Dramani Mahama, whose vision of “a productive, prosperous, integrated, innovative, and equitable society” is the program’s ideological compass.
He attributed much of the initial groundwork to the NDC’s 2024 Manifesto Committee, chaired by Professor Kwaku Danso-Boafo, now serving as Cabinet Secretary.
Special thanks were extended to the 24-Hour Economy Task Force and the Jobs and Employment Subcommittee of the NDC’s 2024 manifesto team, whose members were acknowledged on-screen during the event.
Input from the Private Sector and Institutions
Furthermore, the input from private sector stakeholders like the Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Federation of Ghanaian Exporters (FAGE), Ghana Union of Traders (GUTA), Ghana National Association of Cattle Farmers, and the UK-Ghana Chamber of Commerce helped shape the program’s realism and responsiveness.
The program’s financial and strategic architecture also benefited significantly from institutions like the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund, the Development Bank of Ghana, Ghana Exim Bank, UNDP, and the African Development Bank.
Goosie Tanoh was particularly grateful for the strategic direction provided by Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, Bank of Ghana Governor Dr. Johnson Asiama, and technical experts from the Ministry of Finance, the Ghana Statistical Service, and the Ghana Revenue Authority.
He further saluted colleagues within the Presidency and government for their unwavering support—mentioning figures such as Chief of Staff Julius Debrah, Senior Presidential Adviser Dr. Valerie Sawyer, Cabinet Secretary Professor Danso, Presidential Secretary Dr. Callistus Mahama, and Legal Adviser Marietta Brew Appiah-Oppong.
Particular credit was reserved for ministers in charge of productive sectors, especially Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu Adjare, Hon. Emelia Arthur, Minister for Fisheries, Hon. Dzifa Abla Gomashie, Minister for Tourism and Creative Arts and Hon. Eric Opoku, Minister of Agriculture.
The security services also earned plaudits for their constructive engagement in supporting the operational stability of the evolving 24-Hour system, alongside the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, Police Service, and Ghana Revenue Authority—all of which have transitioned to 24-hour operational frameworks in key areas.
Throughout his address, the Presidential Advisor Goosie Tanoh reiterated that the 24-Hour Economy is not a static document but “a living program rooted in science and firm social democratic principles, but flexible enough to respond tactically to a changing environment.”
He stressed that constructive criticism was not only welcome but necessary, describing adaptation and learning as key attributes of success.
“The bow that doesn’t bend always breaks. The task that Ghana has undertaken and that our Secretariat is supporting is a challenging one. However, the social and political costs of inaction are terrifying.”
Augustus Goosie Tanoh, Presidential Advisor on the 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development
He voiced profound optimism in the Ghanaian people, calling them capable, resilient, and now inspired by President John Dramani Mahama.
“We can say without a doubt that our president is a true champion of responsible entrepreneurship in national transformation. Ladies and gentlemen, we as a country, we as a people, have what it takes, and with your support, we will succeed.”
Augustus Goosie Tanoh, Presidential Advisor on the 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development
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