Resetting Ghana: Strategic Leadership and the Blueprint for a 24-Hour Economy Spearheaded by His Excellency President John Mahama

ACCRA, Ghana— In less than 100 days of reclaiming the presidency, John Dramani Mahama has not only staged a remarkable political comeback but has also launched an ambitious national agenda that is decisively shaping Ghana’s economic and social landscape. Central to this visionary pursuit is a resolute commitment to inclusive development and bold economic resets, heralding the onset of a dynamic 24-hour economy. His second-term leadership exemplifies pragmatic optimism — firmly rooted in Ghanaian realities while confidently paving a path toward global competitiveness.

The 24-Hour Economy:
Ghana’s New Economic Pulse
Mahama’s flagship policy — the 24-hour economy — is already in full swing, revolutionizing sectors that were previously hampered by daytime-only operations. This initiative, geared towards enhancing employment, boosting industrial output, and attracting significant investment, is being realized through:

• Incentives for companies embracing night shifts, including attractive tax rebates, lowered utility tariffs, and flexible labor regulations.
• Extended logistics corridors connecting Tema and Takoradi Ports to key industrial zones in the Eastern and Ashanti regions.
• Public sector alignment, with the rollout of 24/7 service centers in revenue collection, health, and transport.

This transformation goes beyond the economic sphere; it’s reshaping our cultural mindset. “We are changing the psychology of productivity in Ghana,” Mahama asserted in February (Office of the President, 2025). “Time is not just passing — time is producing.”

Flagship Policy Pillars from the NDC Manifesto.

In addition to the 24-hour economy, Mahama’s administration is vigorously advancing four transformative flagship programs from the NDC Manifesto:

1. The Youth Service & Skills Corps (YSSC): This landmark initiative mobilizes over 200,000 young people into sectors such as agro-processing, tech innovation, renewable energy, and health logistics. It emphasizes demand-driven training and productive national service, significantly reducing dependency while driving GDP growth through youth labor participation (NDC Manifesto, 2024).

2. Digital Ghana for Jobs: This robust government-backed startup accelerator and infrastructure initiative aims to establish Ghana as West Africa’s premier tech outsourcing hub. With digital campuses launched in Tamale, Kumasi, and Cape Coast, our target is to create 1 million digital jobs by 2028.

3. National Agriculture Investment Plan (NAIP): Building on Mahama’s historic commitment to agriculture, NAIP facilitates investments in subsidies, irrigation systems, and 24-hour agribusiness centers to stabilize food prices and generate rural employment

4. The Women’s Economic Resilience Initiative (WERI): This flagship policy is set to empower over 500,000 women entrepreneurs by providing subsidized capital, digital finance tools, and enhanced market access. WERI aligns with broader gender equality objectives, ensuring women occupy 40% of strategic government positions.

Empowering Ghanaian Women:
From Margin to Center-
President Mahama has unequivocally positioned women’s empowerment at the core of national development. In 2025, his administration passed the Equal Economic Access Act, establishing mandatory gender quotas in public procurement, civil service, and agribusiness funding.

We’re already witnessing a 40% increase in government contract access for female-led MSMEs.

Moreover, WERI integrates initiatives for maternal health, flexible work policies, and training for women in non-traditional sectors like logistics, construction, and AI development.

Stabilizing the Cedi Through Smart Fiscal Engineering.

Mahama’s second term also prioritizes urgent macroeconomic stability, particularly concerning the Ghana cedi. The administration's currency stabilization strategy is driven by three pivotal levers:

1. Domestic Production-Led Import Substitution: By significantly investing in local manufacturing and agro-processing, the government has successfully reduced non-essential imports by 18% since January 2025 (Bank of Ghana, 2025).

2. Targeted FX Buffering & Export Incentives: Exporters in key sectors like cocoa, shea, and light manufacturing now benefit from tiered incentives to repatriate earnings through Ghanaian banks, thereby enhancing forex supply and alleviating pressure on the cedi.

3. Debt Optimization & Local Bond Market Revival:

The Ministry of Finance is actively restructuring short-term external debt while revitalizing the domestic bond market, minimizing Ghana’s vulnerability to global rate fluctuations.

Within the initial 90 days, the cedi has stabilized within a controlled band, supported by a transparent FX intervention framework and digital traceability of importers.

A Leadership Style That Listens and Leads

President Mahama’s leadership has instilled a renewed sense of calm and seriousness into Ghana’s public sector. He governs with a steady, collaborative hand — data-driven and unafraid to make the tough decisions necessary for progress. His cabinet reflects a deliberate commitment to youth and gender balance, embodying the very spirit of Ghana's transformation.

References:

• Bank of Ghana. (2025). Quarterly Monetary Policy Report (Q1 2025). Accra: BoG Publications.
• Ministry of Gender and Inclusion. (2025). Women's Economic Resilience Initiative – Launch Report. Accra: Government of Ghana.
• National Democratic Congress. (2024). The People’s Manifesto: Securing Ghana’s Future. Accra: NDC Policy Directorate.
• Office of the President. (2025). State of the Nation Address – February 2025. Jubilee House: Republic of Ghana.

Bismarck Kwesi Davis
Accra Ghana
[email protected]