On Wednesday, July 2, 2025, President John Dramani Mahama officially launched the 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Initiative at the Accra International Conference Centre.
The launch represents a key milestone in his ‘Reset Ghana’ agenda, aimed at revitalizing the nation’s economy, boosting productivity, and expanding job opportunities across various sectors.
In his address, President Mahama outlined the vision and purpose behind the Accelerated Export Development Programme, highlighting its role in driving sustainable economic growth and positioning Ghana as a competitive player in global markets.
“The programme was born from reflection during and after my previous term in office. Between 2016 and 2020, it became increasingly clear that Ghana, like many African countries, is trapped in a model of an equal exchange. We export raw materials and we import refined finished products”; President Mahama stated.
He highlighted the economic inefficiencies of Ghana’s current trade model. “We ship cocoa, gold, timber and oil abroad, only to repurchase them as chocolates, jewelry, furniture and fuel at a far greater cost. This model does not serve our people. It has never served our people,” President Mahama affirmed, underscoring the need for a more value-driven approach to economic development” President Mahama said.
The President also pointed out the broader implications of Ghana’s reliance on exports of raw resources. “It generates foreign jobs, fuels foreign economies, and funds foreign healthcare and education systems. While our youth remain unemployed, our industry stagnates and our imports balloon. We had laid the essential foundation then for energy infrastructure, roads, ICT systems and human capital investment,” he explained.
President Mahama emphasized the need for Ghana to move beyond fragmented policy efforts. “We understood that isolated measures were no longer enough. What was required was an integrated, bold, and coherent strategy—one that breaks down the silos of previous approaches,” he stated. “The 24-Hour Plus Programme is our unified response.
Today, we shift from slogans to a concrete strategy,” he announced, marking a decisive step forward in Ghana’s path to economic transformation.
