Cabinet approves 24-Hour Authority Bill for parliamentary submission – President Mahama

Cabinet has approved the 24-Hour Authority Bill for onward submission to Parliament, President John Dramani Mahama announced on Wednesday.

Addressing journalists at the Presidency in Accra, he said the move marked a decisive step in realising the government’s 24-Hour Economy Vision, with several key institutions already adopting round-the-clock operations.

The Ghana Publishing Company, the Passport Office and Ghana’s foreign missions had rolled out 24-hour services, while both Tema and Takoradi ports were now operating continuously to ease congestion and enhance trade efficiency.

To ensure safety and coordination, a dedicated 24-Hour Economy Policy Secretariat had also been established at the Ministry of Interior to provide nationwide security support.

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“These bold steps signal a clear national commitment to building a resilient, inclusive, and job-rich economy,” President Mahama said.

He highlighted macroeconomic stability as a foundation for the initiative, noting that inflation had dropped from 23.8 per cent in December 2024 to 11.5 per cent in July 2025 — the lowest since December 2021.

“This isn’t just about numbers, it’s about being felt across markets and homes. Prices of key commodities are falling, and for the first time in years, brands and businesses are actively advertising their price reductions,” he stressed, adding that data from trade associations showed up to 4,500 items had recorded varied price drops.

The President further pointed out that Ghana remained current on its bond repayments, a factor that contributed to S&P Global Ratings upgrading the country’s credit risk from junk status to B- with a stable outlook.

“To sustain this positive momentum, we are boosting productivity through bold job-creating initiatives. The 24-Hour Economy Initiative is among the most transformative — designed to support SMEs, modernise agriculture and expand employment opportunities,” he said.

He emphasised that the initiative was not merely about extending working hours but about “unlocking new shifts of productivity, widening access to jobs, and building a resilient, inclusive economy that works for all.”