1. INTRODUCTION
Every hour Ghana sleeps, millions of cedis slip through our fingers. The 24-hour economy is not just a vision; it is our chance to reclaim those lost hours. But can we truly afford for our roads to fall silent at dusk, for our ports to pause until morning, for our fuel filling stations to shut their pumps, or for our factories to power down, while global competitors push forward through the night?
Much has already been said about Ghana’s 24-hour economy, a bold policy direction designed to transform how the nation works, produces, and competes on the global stage. Since its official launch by President John Mahama, the policy has escalated national attention, sparking widespread debate and comparisons among the eight strategic pillars across industries, academia, and civil society.
After reviewing and carefully comparing the eight strategic pillars President Mahama has outlined, I find myself leaning decidedly toward one pillar above the rest: Connect 24.
This inclination is not incidental; it is driven by my professional interests in sustainability, smart logistics, and the transformative power of technology. While all eight pillars are crucial to realising Ghana’s vision of an economy that transcends daylight, Connect 24 stands out as the strategic backbone without which the entire system risks remaining merely aspirational.
Of course, this perspective reflects my professional background and interests, and I fully acknowledge that others might prioritise different pillars based on their own expertise and experiences.
Connect 24 is far more than physical infrastructure. It represents the invisible yet critical networks that keep goods moving, data flowing, and energy reliably delivered at every hour of the day and night. It embodies the convergence of digital innovation, sustainable energy systems, and intelligent logistics, ensuring businesses, industries, and public services can operate seamlessly and competitively, even when the sun has long set.
Without Connect 24, factories could stall for lack of power, markets might remain fragmented, and digital services could falter under inefficiencies. It is this pillar that promises to bind Ghana’s 24-hour economy into a cohesive, thriving system capable of driving sustainable growth and securing the nation’s place as a regional economic powerhouse.
In this article, I share why Connect 24 commands my particular focus and how it could serve as the critical enabler of Ghana’s next economic revolution.
2. WHY CONNECT 24 STANDS AT THE HEART OF THE 24-HOUR VISION
Ghana’s vision for a 24-hour economy is bold and inspiring. Each pillar in this vision brings tremendous value and unique contributions to national development.
- Grow 24 fuels food security and export earnings.
- Make 24 drives industrial growth and job creation.
- Show 24 turns culture and tourism into powerful economic engines.
- Build 24 reshapes cities and infrastructure for a modern era.
- Fund 24 empowers financial inclusion and business dynamism.
- Aspire 24 equips Ghanaians with skills and knowledge.
- Go 24 ensures all efforts are measured, coordinated, and accountable.
These are not rivals. They are partners in Ghana’s transformation.
Can Ghana afford a 24-hour economy where power flickers off at midnight, and roads go silent after dusk? While each pillar brings essential value, strategic focus on Connect 24 ensures that the benefits of all other pillars can be fully realised
2.1 Grow 24: Turning Harvests into Prosperity
While Grow 24 forms the mainstay of Ghana’s economy, where farmers can produce crops day and night, we only derive value when these harvests move efficiently to markets, processors, and ports. Picture a farmer’s harvest waiting in the dark, while the city market bustles with buyers who will never see it. That gap is where Connect 24 steps in.
Connect 24 provides the logistics, cold-chain systems, and digital marketplaces that turn harvests into income, food security, and export revenue. It ensures that the fruits of our fields feed not just our people, but our future. Imagine cold-chain trucks humming through the night, guided by digital maps, carrying fresh produce from village fields to dawn-lit urban markets. That’s the silent power of Connect 24, turning harvests into livelihoods and national prosperity.
2.2 Make 24: Turning Production into Progress
Make 24 holds enormous promise for job creation, industrial growth, and export revenue. Nevertheless, the true value of manufacturing lies not merely in production, but in distribution. Connect 24 supplies the power, transport corridors, and digital systems that keep factories running and goods flowing. It transforms Ghana’s industrial capacity into prosperity that reaches global markets.
2.3 Show 24: Keeping Ghana Vibrant After Dark
Under Show 24, Ghana envisions a thriving tourism and entertainment sector alive with music, lights, and visitors at all hours. However, seamless experiences require more than creativity alone. Connect 24 guarantees the safe transport, reliable energy, and robust digital platforms that enable Ghana’s nightlife and cultural events to flourish without interruption, turning potential into sustainable economic impact.
2.4 Build 24: Accelerating Transformation
Build 24 drives the vision of modern cities and infrastructure. Yet even the most ambitious projects depend on the timely delivery of materials, stable power, and coordinated systems. Connect 24 keeps materials moving, powers construction sites through the night, and ensures digital project management tools function seamlessly, accelerating Ghana’s path to urban renewal and national development.
2.5 Fund 24: Powering Financial Inclusion
Fund 24 seeks to extend banking services, empower digital payments, and enhance financial inclusion. But financial systems cannot function in isolation. Connect 24 builds the secure digital infrastructure and reliable connectivity that allows financial transactions to happen safely and instantly, ensuring that economic activity never has to sleep.
2.6 Aspire 24: Opening Doors to Opportunity
Aspire 24 is about equipping Ghanaians with the skills and knowledge to thrive in a modern economy. However, digital learning and online opportunities require dependable connectivity and energy. Connect 24 bridges that divide, ensuring that learning, innovation, and entrepreneurship are accessible to every Ghanaian, regardless of geography or hour.
2.7 Go 24: Guiding Ghana’s Vision
Go 24 represents governance, monitoring, and evaluation to keep Ghana’s transformation on track. Nevertheless, governance requires information that flows without delay. Connect 24 provides the digital backbone and data networks that allow leaders to respond swiftly, coordinate resources, and ensure accountability, day or night.
2.8 Connect 24: The Strategic Enabler
Connect 24 does not overshadow the other pillars; it empowers them. It is the silent enabler that ensures the entire 24-hour economy functions as a cohesive, living system rather than disconnected parts. A nation can grow, manufacture, build, and entertain. But without movement, power, and digital flow, ambition remains unrealised. Connect 24 is the artery through which Ghana’s 24-hour economy draws its lifeblood.
3. CORE ELEMENTS OF CONNECT 24
The strength of Connect 24 lies in how it seamlessly weaves together three critical systems: digital infrastructure, transport and logistics, and sustainable energy. These are not standalone components; rather, they operate as an integrated ecosystem essential for sustaining a 24-hour economy. Let’s explore how each element contributes to this transformative vision.
3.1 Digital Infrastructure
At the heart of Connect 24 is a robust digital backbone designed to ensure that Ghana’s economy remains “switched on” at all hours. It’s not merely about internet connectivity; it is about smart, data-driven systems that optimise operations across industries.
- Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI enables predictive analytics for supply chains, real-time monitoring of goods in transit, and smart energy management. For example, AI-driven logistics systems can analyse traffic patterns and automatically reroute trucks at night to avoid delays and reduce fuel costs.
- Digital Platforms: E-commerce marketplaces, mobile banking, and digital payment systems are essential for businesses operating 24/7. A fruit wholesaler in the Northern Region, for instance, should be able to sell produce at midnight to buyers in Accra without waiting for banks to open.
- Cybersecurity and Data Governance: As operations extend around the clock, digital security becomes paramount to protect financial transactions, personal data, and supply chain information.
3.2 Transport and Logistics
Logistics is the visible arm of Connect 24, and perhaps its most tangible impact. Without efficient movement of goods, people, and services, the promise of a 24-hour economy remains out of reach.
- Night-Time Logistics: Night transport reduces daytime congestion and improves delivery times. Efficient cold chains ensure perishable products like fish, vegetables, and pharmaceuticals remain fresh, enabling agriculture and health industries to function seamlessly at all hours.
- Smart Routing and Supply Chains: Digital systems and GPS technology can dynamically optimise routes, reducing travel times, fuel costs, and emissions, a critical sustainability benefit.
- Intermodal Integration: Connect 24 envisions smoother links between road, rail, air, and maritime transport, ensuring that raw materials and finished goods flow seamlessly across Ghana’s borders and beyond.
3.3 Sustainable Energy Systems
A 24-hour economy demands energy security, but it must be sustainable. Connect 24 integrates renewable and smart energy solutions to power round-the-clock operations without compromising Ghana’s environmental goals.
- Renewable Energy Integration: Solar, wind, and hydropower can help manage peak and off-peak demands. Off-peak incentives could encourage industries to operate at night, reducing stress on daytime grids.
- Smart Grids and Energy Storage: Technologies like battery storage and AI-driven energy management systems ensure that power remains stable and affordable, even during high night-time consumption.
- Waste-to-Energy Solutions: Connect 24 offers opportunities to link waste management with energy production, transforming waste streams into sustainable power sources for industries operating 24/7.
3.4 The Power of Integration
Connect 24 is more than a list of infrastructure projects. It is a vision of integration, where digital intelligence, logistics efficiency, and clean energy converge to create an economy that is faster, smarter, and greener. Consequently, Connect 24 is not merely a policy pillar. It is the lever that could lift Ghana into a new era of economic resilience and competitiveness.
4. CONNECT 24 AND SUSTAINABILITY
A true 24-hour economy cannot simply extend the working day; it must redefine how resources are used, how waste is managed, and how economic growth aligns with environmental stewardship. Connect 24 stands at the intersection of economic ambition and sustainable responsibility, making it uniquely positioned to drive Ghana’s green transition.
At its core, Connect 24 is not just about infrastructure; it is about building systems that respect ecological limitswhile enabling economic expansion. This sustainability dimension makes it even more crucial among the eight strategic pillars. Let’s explore how Connect 24 promotes sustainability across multiple fronts:
4.1 Sustainable Logistics and Supply Chains
- Lower Emissions: Operating logistics networks during off-peak hours reduces urban congestion, shortens travel times, and lowers fuel consumption, thereby decreasing carbon emissions.
- Green Freight Corridors: Connect 24 can help designate specific routes equipped with electric vehicle charging stations and low-emission transport options, ensuring greener movement of goods.
- AI for Efficiency: Artificial intelligence can analyse patterns in transport and supply chains to minimise empty trips, optimise storage facilities, and reduce wasteful resource use.
4.2 Circular Economy Integration
Waste as a Resource: Connect 24 envisions systems where waste is not an end product but a new beginning. Plastics, metals, and organic materials can be collected, sorted, and reintroduced into manufacturing cycles.
Recycling in Real-Time: Advanced digital tracking can allow manufacturers to source recycled inputs even during nighttime operations, maintaining production without relying solely on virgin materials.
- Economic Opportunity: Circular processes open new avenues for employment and entrepreneurship, turning waste management into a profitable and sustainable sector.
4.3 Sustainable Energy for 24-Hour Operations
- Renewable Power Integration: Solar, wind, and hydro projects can power night-time industry, supported by smart grids that balance supply and demand efficiently.
- Waste-to-Energy Solutions: Connect 24 offers unique potential for integrating waste management with power generation. Converting waste into energy not only manages urban sanitation challenges but also provides a clean energy source for 24-hour businesses.
- Energy Efficiency: Smart meters and energy management systems can ensure that electricity usage during night shifts is efficient and cost-effective.
4.4 Cleaner Urban Environments
- Night-Time Waste Collection: Operating waste collection services at night reduces daytime traffic congestion and improves urban cleanliness for businesses and tourism.
- Air Quality Improvement: Shifting logistics operations to less congested hours can decrease vehicular emissions, enhancing air quality in urban centres.
- Smart Monitoring: Digital sensors can continuously track pollution levels and waste accumulation, ensuring rapid intervention to maintain public health standards.
Connect 24’s sustainability potential goes far beyond operational efficiency. It presents a vision where economic growth and environmental protection are not mutually exclusive but fundamentally intertwined. By integrating AI, smart logistics, renewable energy, and waste management into a cohesive system, Connect 24 can position Ghana as a regional leader in sustainable economic development.
In a world increasingly focused on climate commitments and ESG standards, Connect 24 is not simply a pillar of the 24-hour economy—it is a pathway to a greener, more resilient future.
5. THE OPPORTUNITY FOR GHANA
Ghana’s decision to pursue a 24-hour economy signals a bold step toward redefining the nation’s economic landscape. Among the eight strategic pillars that underpin this vision, Connect 24 offers perhaps the most profound opportunity, not only to modernise infrastructure and enhance competitiveness but also to transform Ghana into a regional leader in sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
5.1 Positioning Ghana as a Regional Hub
With robust digital networks, seamless logistics, and reliable energy systems, Ghana can position itself as West Africa’s logistical and digital gateway. Connect 24 makes it possible for:
- Trade Efficiency: Goods can move swiftly through Ghana’s ports and borders at any hour, attracting regional businesses seeking reliable trade corridors.
- Investment Magnet: International investors favour regions with modern infrastructure and minimal operational downtime. A 24-hour economy driven by Connect 24 signals stability and readiness for global business partnerships.
- AfCFTA Leverage: As the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) gains momentum, Ghana’s ability to offer round-the-clock services gives it a strategic edge in intra-African trade.
5.2 Driving Sustainable and Inclusive Growth
Beyond economic metrics, Connect 24 has the potential to promote environmental sustainability and social inclusion:
- Green Transformation: By integrating renewable energy and waste-to-energy solutions, Ghana can pursue growth without sacrificing environmental integrity.
- Job Creation: New roles in digital systems management, renewable energy maintenance, smart logistics, and recycling will create diverse employment opportunities.
- Empowering Rural Economies: Connect 24 bridges the urban-rural divide, enabling farmers and small businesses in remote regions to connect to broader markets and digital platforms.
5.3 Enhancing Economic Resilience
Connect 24 also fortifies Ghana’s economy against shocks:
- Supply Chain Continuity: Global crises like pandemics have shown the importance of resilient, diversified supply networks that operate beyond traditional business hours.
- Energy Security: Distributed renewable energy systems reduce dependence on single power sources, insulating industries from grid failures.
- Data-Driven Adaptation: Smart infrastructure allows real-time monitoring and rapid response to emerging challenges, from traffic congestion to energy demand fluctuations.
5.4. Catalysing Innovation and Technological Advancement
Connect 24 provides fertile ground for innovation:
- Tech Startups: Digital transformation opens avenues for local tech entrepreneurs to create solutions tailored to 24-hour operations.
- Smart Cities Development: Urban planning can integrate smart systems for waste management, traffic control, and resource efficiency, enhancing urban quality of life.
- Circular Economy Models: Integrating recycling and resource efficiency into supply chains spurs innovations in sustainable manufacturing and services.
A Vision Within Reach
Ghana’s pursuit of a 24-hour economy is not merely about longer hours—it’s about unlocking a new level of national potential. Connect 24 stands as the pivotal pillar that can translate this vision into a thriving, modern reality. It offers a future where growth is sustainable, inclusive, and resilient—a future where Ghana does not merely keep pace with global economies but helps shape the next frontier of African economic development.
The opportunity is historic, and with the right strategies, Ghana is poised to seize it.
6. CONCLUSION
Ghana’s aspiration to build a 24-hour economy marks one of the most ambitious economic transformations in its modern history. It is a vision not merely of working longer hours but of unlocking continuous productivity, seamless trade, and sustainable prosperity.
Among the eight strategic pillars outlined by President John Mahama, Connect 24 stands out as the essential force that breathes life into the entire policy. Without reliable logistics corridors, stable energy supply, advanced digital infrastructure, and sustainable waste management systems, the other pillars risk remaining impressive plans confined to paper. Connect 24 is the circulatory system of Ghana’s 24-hour economy. It is the network that ensures every other sector can function.
From moving agricultural produce swiftly from rural fields to urban markets, to enabling night-time tourism and keeping factories humming through the night, Connect 24 touches every aspect of economic life. It offers pathways not only for economic growth but for environmental sustainability, innovation, and inclusive development that lifts communities across the nation.
Naturally, my views are shaped by my work in sustainability, technology, and logistics—and I respect that others may champion different pillars depending on their own fields of expertise. Still, I firmly believe that Connect 24 holds the unique potential to position Ghana as a regional powerhouse and a blueprint for sustainable, round-the-clock economic growth in Africa.
Now is the moment for bold action and collaboration. Policymakers, businesses, civil society, and the Ghanaian people must work hand in hand to ensure that Connect 24 does not remain just a pillar of policy but becomes the operational engine driving Ghana into a future where opportunity truly never sleeps. The promise is clear: With Connect 24 at its core, Ghana’s 24-hour economy is not just possible, it is achievable.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
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