Ghana: Making Every Hour Count

With bold reforms spanning labor policy, green jobs, digital finance, and infrastructure. Ghana is positioning itself as one of Africa’s most forward-moving investment destinations.

Ghana spent the first half of 2025 proving once again why it is seen as a beacon of stability in West Africa. The return of John Dramani Mahama, who led the nation from 2012 to 2017, marked a smooth democratic transition and reinforced the government’s commitment to a new phase of economic opportunity. One of the country’s boldest steps is the plan for a 24-hour economy.

From midnight factories to sunrise farms, the initiative aims to extend operating hours across agriculture, manufacturing, logistics, and public services. “Ghana’s 24-hour economy is aimed at transforming the country into an import substitution and export-led economy,” says President John Dramani Mahama.

A computable general equilibrium model by local economists projects that the policy, if properly implemented, could raise real GDP by more than 30% in a decade and create over three million jobs. Night operations will be supported through lower off-peak electricity tariffs, extended public services at ports and licensing offices, and a new Employment Act to guide shift-based work.

At the same time, Ghana’s economy is going digital. With over 92% of adults using mobile money, the country leads Africa in financial inclusion. Fintech platforms like Zeepay are helping close long-standing gaps. “We want to revolutionize mobile money through both digital products and services,” says Andrew Takyi-Appiah, Managing Director of Zeepay.

The Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications is bridging the digital divide by building ICT labs, telecom towers, and rural tech hubs. “We want our rural folks to communicate, browse, and trade, just like anyone in Accra,” says Tanko Rashid Computer, CEO of GIFEC. The company’s programs are helping farmers interpret climate data, training market women to sell online, and teaching students to code.

Traditional banks are also adapting to this digital shift. Fidelity Bank has expanded across the country through over 8,000 agents and introduced digital tools to bring finance closer. “We were the first bank to be licensed for agency banking,” says Julian Opuni, Managing Director. “Our goal is to bring banking to the doorstep of every Ghanaian.”

The country’s sustainability agenda is equally ambitious. Through its Green Jobs Strategy, Ghana aims to create one million jobs by investing in circular economy initiatives, solar mini-grids, and renewable energy corridors. Agriculture, still the largest employer, is undergoing major transformation. Ghana spends over US$2 billion annually on food imports it could produce at home. The Ministry of Food and Agriculture is scaling up irrigation, school farms, and agro-processing hubs through its Feed Ghana and Feed Industry programs. “If agriculture is rain-fed, you can’t run a 24-hour economy,” says Hon. Minister Eric Opoku. “We want to feed people and feed industry.”

These shifts are supported by a broader pro-business environment. Ghana consistently ranks among the top five countries for doing business in West Africa, with incentives targeted at high-growth sectors including ICT, pharmaceuticals, agro-processing, and automotive assembly. The Africa Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat, headquartered in Accra, gives Ghana direct access to a market of 1.3 billion people. For investors, that means infrastructure, regulation, and opportunity converge in one of Africa’s most strategic locations.

The country’s infrastructure is rising to meet the scale of its ambition. The Tema Port Expansion is boosting trade capacity, while major road corridors and new rail links are connecting regions. Projects like the Accra SkyTrain and urban regeneration plans signal a long-term approach to city design. Telecom and broadband infrastructure are also expanding rapidly, with GIFEC supporting digital access across all 268 districts in Ghana. Renewable energy, airport upgrades, and smart city plans are positioning Ghana as a regional hub.

Beyond economics, Ghana is leveraging its influence on the global stage. It plays an active role in ECOWAS diplomacy, peacekeeping, and climate negotiations. Its soft power is growing through music, fashion, and film. Diaspora engagement and tourism strategies are helping rebrand Ghana as not only a business destination but also a cultural hub.

The nation’s 24-hour economy is part of a larger strategy to reengineer productivity, inclusion, and sustainability. In doing so, Ghana is proving that with the right policies,  systems, and leadership, time can be reclaimed as a national asset.