In his State of the Nation Address on Friday, February 27, 2026, President John Dramani Mahama officially transitioned his signature 24-Hour Economy policy from campaign promise to statutory reality.
Following his recent assent to the 24-Hour Economy Authority Bill, the President told Parliament that the “era of strategy” has ended and the “time for measurable action” has begun.
The centerpiece of this year’s address was the formal launch of the 24-Hour Economy Authority, a new statutory body mandated to coordinate round-the-clock operations across manufacturing, services, and agribusiness sectors.
President Mahama emphasized that this initiative goes beyond extended business hours. It represents a structural transformation of Ghana’s economic framework. By encouraging enterprises to operate in three shifts, the government expects to create nearly 1.7 million jobs and significantly reduce the nation’s dependence on costly imports.
To facilitate this ambitious rollout, the President unveiled a suite of operational incentives, including tax relief on electricity consumed during off-peak hours and enhanced security measures for night-shift workers.
The “BUILD 24” framework is designed to lower operational costs while maximizing the use of existing infrastructure. For the youth present in Parliament, the message was clear: the 24-hour economy is a key engine for tackling unemployment and unlocking Ghana’s industrial potential.
Concluding his address, President Mahama stressed that the initiative’s success hinges on private-sector collaboration. He called on Ghanaian entrepreneurs and international partners to take full advantage of the new legal safeguards and incentives, signaling that the countdown to Ghana’s industrial renaissance has officially begun.