The 24-Hour Economy Authority is targeting the creation of 1.7 million jobs by 2028 through a series of industrial, energy and agribusiness projects designed to boost production, expand manufacturing and position Ghana to take advantage of opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Speaking at a roundtable discussion during the 2026 Citi Business Festival, Chief Export Development Officer of the Authority, Gabriel Opoku-Asare, said the initiative seeks to address long-standing structural weaknesses in Ghana’s economy, which remains heavily dependent on exporting raw materials and importing finished products.
He noted that despite several economic reform programmes over the past six decades, Ghana continues to face recurring economic challenges that have led to repeated engagements with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
According to him, the government’s economic reset agenda is focused on restoring macroeconomic stability while accelerating growth in productive sectors of the economy.
Mr. Opoku-Asare said recent improvements in key economic indicators, including lower inflation, stronger GDP growth and improved currency stability, demonstrate progress in stabilising the economy.
He described the 24-Hour Economy programme as the vehicle for driving industrialisation, increasing production capacity and creating sustainable jobs across the country.
The Authority is also aiming to double manufacturing’s contribution to Gross Domestic Product from 10 per cent to 20 per cent while creating 1.7 million jobs over the next two years.
Mr. Opoku-Asare disclosed that four bankable projects have already been signed within the last 90 days as part of efforts to accelerate implementation of the programme.
He said the broader objective is to transform Ghana into a competitive production hub capable of serving markets across Africa under AfCFTA.
The remarks were made during a discussion on the theme, “Unlocking Africa’s Single Market: How Can Ghanaian Businesses Win Under AfCFTA?”, where policymakers and business leaders highlighted the importance of building competitive local industries to serve Africa’s 1.4 billion consumer market.
The 2026 Citi Business Festival is powered by Citi FM and Channel One TV in partnership with Absa Bank and sponsored by Absa Bank, MTN Ghana, Zonda Tec Ghana Limited and Petra Trust.
