The Presidential Advisor on the 24-Hour Economy, Mr Goosie Tanoh, has underscored that Ghana‘s ambition to build a vibrant 24-hour economy hinges on the nation’s full embrace of digital innovation.
He described digital transformation as the “backbone” of the government’s economic vision, noting that a modern, round-the-clock economy depended on robust digital systems that allowed citizens, businesses, and entrepreneurs to work seamlessly across time zones.
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“Imagine a Ghana where it no longer matters whether it is 10 p.m. or 10 a.m., where opportunities are open, jobs are created, and innovation never ceases. That is the Ghana we are building,” Mr. Tanoh said in a speech delivered on his behalf by Dr. Ishmael Dodoo, Director and Head of Partnerships and Market at the 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Secretariat.
He made the remarks at the opening of the 2025 Ghana Digital and Innovation Week (GDIW) in Accra on Wednesday. The three-day event, themed “Catalysing for Change – Innovation and Digital Transformation at the Centre of Ghana’s Development,” was jointly organised by Impact Investing Ghana, the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme, and the Ghana Hubs Network.
Digital economy’s growth potential
Mr Tanoh emphasised that Ghana’s youthful population, more than 57 percent under age 25, represented the country’s greatest asset in achieving digital transformation.
He cited the 2025 GSMA African Digital Transformation Report, which projects that digital innovation will add over GH¢40 billion to Ghana’s economy by 2029 and create more than 440,000 new jobs, particularly in youth-led and tech-driven enterprises.
“These are not just statistics; they are signals. They show that the digital economy is the new engine of growth for Africa and for Ghana,” he noted.
Across Africa, the report predicts that the digital economy will contribute 5.2 percent of the continent’s GDP by the end of 2025, with digital payments expected to reach $1.5 trillion by 2050.
Government’s digital agenda
Mr Tanoh said the government’s Aspire24 Programme would partner with technology hubs, startups, universities, and innovators to build the infrastructure necessary to sustain the 24-hour economy.
This includes advancing e-payment systems, smart transport and security networks, digital marketplaces, and online education and freelancing platforms, ensuring that Ghanaians can work, trade, and learn globally, at any hour of the day.
He challenged the youth to take charge of the country’s transformation:
“You are the creative force, the heartbeat of this ambition. Use your skills to create solutions that serve not just Ghana, but the world. Don’t wait for the future—build it.”
National commitment to a digital future
In a statement delivered on his behalf, Mr Sam Nartey George, Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, affirmed that Ghana’s digital development agenda was a “statement of intent” to ensure that the nation does not rely on analogue systems in a 21st-century economy.
“The true wealth of nations lies not just in natural resources but in ideas, data, and digital infrastructure,” he said.
The Minister highlighted initiatives such as the One Million Coders Programme, the Girls in ICT Initiative, and the establishment of regional tech hubs and innovation labs aimed at promoting digital inclusion and equitable access.
UNDP and the private sector backing
Dr Edward Ampratwum, Head of Inclusive Growth and Accountable Governance at UNDP Ghana, reiterated the UN‘s commitment to bridging the country’s digital divide through partnerships among government, private sector, academia, and civic tech innovators.
He urged stakeholders to leverage artificial intelligence for climate resilience, blockchain for transparency, and GovTech for efficient public service delivery, stressing that people-centred digital transformation must remain the goal.
Mr Yaw Adu Gyamfi, Chairman of the Ghana Hub Network, called for deeper regional inclusion in Ghana’s digital ecosystem, noting that local participation would make national policies more responsive and sustainable.
