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The Secretariat of the 24-Hour Economy Programme has dismissed claims that the government’s flagship policy has failed to produce tangible results, insisting that the initiative is already attracting major investments, creating jobs and expanding round-the-clock operations across key sectors of the economy.
In a statement responding to comments by the Ranking Member of Parliament’s Economy and Development Committee, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, the Secretariat said the programme has progressed beyond the planning stage and is now delivering measurable outcomes through investment commitments and increased industrial activity.
According to the Secretariat, the programme had secured Joint Development Agreements worth $5.5 billion with co-development partners as of May 2026. It added that 268 filling stations and 33 manufacturing companies had already adopted the programme’s multi-shift operational model.
The Secretariat said the success of the initiative should not be measured by government expenditure but by the level of investment mobilised, production capacity created, exports generated and employment opportunities.
“The right measure is the investment the Programme mobilises and the production, exports and jobs it generates,” the statement said.
It disclosed that the programme is targeting the creation of 1.7 million decent jobs by the end of 2028, with four agreements signed over the past 90 days alone expected to generate more than 160,000 direct jobs.
The Secretariat also rejected assertions that the programme had utilised part of the GH¢650 billion appropriated by Parliament over the past two years.
It clarified that the figure cited by Mr. Oppong Nkrumah represented the government’s total national budget allocation and not expenditure on the 24-Hour Economy Programme.
“The GHS650 billion cited by Hon. Oppong Nkrumah is the total that Parliament has appropriated for all government programmes over the past two years. It is by no means the expenditure made by or on the 24-Hour Economy,” the statement noted.
According to the Secretariat, the programme is largely driven by private-sector financing, with both local and international investors expected to fund the majority of projects. Government’s role, it explained, is primarily focused on project preparation, coordination and providing viability gap financing where necessary.
“Almost all of the projects are funded by private investors: Ghanaian and foreign companies and cooperatives,” it added.
Highlighting ongoing projects under the initiative, the Secretariat cited the $1.45 billion Buipe Solar and Battery Project, which is expected to generate 1,500 megawatts of electricity and create approximately 13,000 jobs.
It also referenced the $250 million Kambonwule Oil Palm Complex, which is projected to create about 120,000 jobs when fully operational.
Beyond the private sector, the Secretariat said several state institutions have begun implementing 24-hour service delivery, including the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), the Ghana Publishing Company and the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA).
The Secretariat explained that the phased implementation of the programme was intentional, allowing government to secure investment partners, develop bankable projects and address critical issues such as land acquisition, infrastructure and reliable electricity supply before full-scale rollout.
It maintained that the programme’s impact would become increasingly evident in the coming months through expanded factory operations, increased investment inflows, job creation and higher levels of production for both the domestic and export markets.
The statement comes after Kojo Oppong Nkrumah questioned the achievements of the 24-Hour Economy Programme since its launch, arguing that despite significant public attention, there was little evidence of concrete results. The Secretariat, however, insists the initiative is on course to transform Ghana’s productive sectors through private-sector-led investment and sustained economic activity.