Omanghana
President John Dramani Mahama has officially signed Ghana’s 24-Hour Economy Authority Bill, 2025, into law, marking a decisive shift from policy design to full-scale implementation of one of his administration’s flagship economic reforms.
The bill was assented to on Thursday, February 19, 2026, and days later, during a Presidential Dialogue with the Private Sector held on February 24, 2026, President Mahama outlined a comprehensive package of tax, duty, and energy incentives aimed at making round-the-clock business operations commercially viable across the country.
Tiered Tax Rebates to Encourage Night-Time Production
At the heart of the policy is a performance-based incentive framework designed to reward firms that extend operations beyond traditional working hours. The rebates are structured according to the number of production shifts operated:
-
50% tax rebate for companies transitioning to a full three-shift, 24-hour production model
-
25% tax rebate for firms operating two shifts
According to the President, the goal is to lower operating costs while encouraging companies to maximize existing infrastructure and labor capacity.
“A 24-hour economy is not about working people harder,” Mahama said. “It is about working our assets smarter and creating more opportunities for decent jobs.”
Duty Waivers and Cheaper Power at Night
To support factory expansion and industrial scale-up, the government will grant import duty waivers on machinery and equipment used in targeted agricultural and industrial activities. This measure is expected to reduce capital costs for manufacturers seeking to modernize or expand operations.
In addition, participating firms will benefit from a Time of Use (TOU) electricity tariff system, which offers discounted power rates during off-peak nighttime hours. Energy experts say the TOU model could ease pressure on the national grid while improving cost efficiency for night-time production.
Export Support Under AfCFTA
Export-oriented businesses operating under the 24-hour framework will also gain access to concessional financing, value-added bonuses, and logistics credits to enhance competitiveness within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The administration believes the incentives will help Ghanaian manufacturers compete more effectively with producers from North and Southern Africa, where energy and logistics efficiencies are often higher.
The new law establishes the 24-Hour Economy Authority as the central coordinating body responsible for:
-
Overseeing nationwide rollout
-
Harmonizing regulations across ministries and agencies
-
Removing bureaucratic bottlenecks that discourage extended operating hours
The Authority will work closely with energy providers, security agencies, and local governments to ensure a safe and reliable operating environment for businesses running overnight.
Eligibility and Priority Sectors
Access to the incentives will not be automatic. The government has emphasized that eligibility will be strictly performance-based, with companies required to meet benchmarks related to:
-
Employment records
-
Electricity consumption data
-
Membership and compliance with recognized trade associations
While the policy is open to a wide range of businesses, priority sectors include:
-
Agro-processing
-
Pharmaceuticals
-
Manufacturing
-
Construction
-
Extractive industries
These sectors are seen as having the highest potential for job creation, value addition, and export growth.
Job Creation at the Core
The 24-Hour Economy initiative is a cornerstone of the government’s broader plan to create over 1.7 million jobs by 2029, particularly for young people and shift-based workers.
President Mahama stressed that the private sector will be the engine of the transformation, with government playing a facilitative role.
“This is a productivity revolution,” he said. “Government will provide the infrastructure, incentives, and security—but the private sector must lead.”
With the legal framework now in place and incentives clearly defined, attention is shifting to implementation and uptake. Business associations have welcomed the clarity, while calling for transparent qualification criteria and fast-tracked approvals.
If effectively executed, analysts say the 24-Hour Economy could fundamentally reshape Ghana’s industrial landscape—turning idle night-time hours into engines of growth, exports, and employment.
Source: Omanghana
