Business
Ghana on Track for Exponential Productivity and Growth with Novel ’24‑Hour Authority’ Proposal
President John Dramani Mahama has announced that the government will soon establish a 24‑Hour Authority to drive the implementation of Ghana’s flagship 24‑hour economy policy.
The flagship policy featured prominently in Mahama’s 2024 election campaign promise and now is his administration’s strategic move to boosting productivity, expanding trade, and fostering broad‑based economic transformation.
Addressing officials and stakeholders during a visit to the Ghana Publishing Company, President Mahama said a special committee has completed its review of the 24‑hour economy framework, and its report is expected to be laid before Parliament to enable the legal creation of the Authority. The new body will be central to the registration of participating businesses, defining incentives, and coordinating implementation across sectors.
“Once established, the 24‑Hour Authority will be the fulcrum for operationalizing our continuous‑production model and ensuring that Ghana remains competitive in a 24/7 global marketplace,” the President said.
Policy Aims and Strategic Focus
The 24‑hour economy initiative represents one of the most ambitious economic policies of the Mahama administration, designed to transition Ghana from a traditional daytime economic model to a round‑the‑clock system that maximizes the utilization of infrastructure, human capital, and industrial capacity.
Under the initiative, key public institutions and services — including ports, regulatory bodies, and service agencies — are already adopting extended operating hours. The policy also envisages incentivizing private sector participation through tax benefits, cheaper utility rates, and business support frameworks once the Authority commences operations.
Economic Implications and Benefits
Experts and government officials argue that the institutionalizing the 24‑hour economy could have far‑reaching implications for Ghana’s economic trajectory:
- Increased Productivity: Continuous operations in manufacturing, logistics and services can enhance output and reduce delays associated with traditional work‑hour constraints.
- Trade and Exports: Ghana’s major seaports, including Tema and Takoradi, have already begun 24‑hour operations to expedite cargo handling, improve turnaround times, and enhance international competitiveness.
- Job Creation: The shift to multi‑shift systems is expected to generate employment opportunities across sectors, particularly for youth and women, as firms expand operations to cover all hours.
- Service Delivery: Extended hours for services such as passport processing and public licensing could significantly improve access for citizens and businesses alike.
Economists note that the Authority’s success will depend on effective coordination with private sector partners, robust infrastructure support (especially energy and logistics), and regulatory frameworks that protect worker rights while encouraging investment.
Context in Broader Economic Strategy
The creation of the 24‑Hour Authority fits within a larger national agenda focused on resetting Ghana’s economic model toward higher productivity, export‑driven growth, and inclusive employment.
It complements other initiatives such as the Volta Economic Corridor, skills development programs, and expanded financing mechanisms to support industrialization.
Ghana, since Mahama’s return to the presidency, has been on an ascendant path towards macroeconomic recovery after challenges in the recent past. Hence, keep the pace and deepen the country’s participation in global value chains, the 24‑hour economy — and the proposed Authority that will be tasked with overseeing it — must become a defining feature of the country’s long‑term economic strategy.
Business
Young Self-Taught Black Inventor Julian Brown Develops Revolutionary Plastic-to-Fuel Technology
Atlanta, USA – A young Black inventor from Atlanta, Julian Brown, has stunned the scientific community and gone viral worldwide after developing a backyard process that converts everyday plastic waste into usable diesel, gasoline, and jet fuel.
Born in Tennessee and raised in Atlanta, Brown — a self-taught welder with no formal degree or laboratory — created a system called “Plastoline.”
Using an upgraded form of pyrolysis (a thermal decomposition process), enhanced with microwaves and solar energy for cleaner conversion, he built a small reactor capable of turning discarded plastics back into high-quality fuel.
Independent tests reportedly confirmed that the diesel and gasoline produced are among the most refined seen, and he has successfully powered vehicles with the fuel in live demonstrations.
Brown launched a startup called Nature Jab and began sharing his experiments on Instagram and TikTok, where the videos quickly gained millions of views globally. Despite suffering second-degree burns in a reactor explosion, he refused to abandon the project.
He attempted to raise $1 million to scale the technology but secured only tens of thousands of dollars. In July 2025, he posted that he was under attack before temporarily vanishing from public view.
He has since re-emerged, with supporters calling for his protection and greater investment in his work.
The innovation has sparked particular excitement across Africa, where plastic waste accumulates in massive quantities in landfills and communities.
Experts say Brown’s technology could offer a practical solution for turning waste into energy, addressing both environmental pollution and fuel shortages on the continent.
Commentators have criticised the lack of substantial support from investors and the broader community, questioning why a breakthrough with such transformative potential, especially from a young Black inventor, has not received wider backing.
Accra, Ghana – MTN Group is exploring significant investments in data centers in Ghana as Part of its digital push.
The telecoms giant says the move is a natural extension of its broader digital infrastructure strategy in one of its most important African markets.
Group Chief Executive Officer Ralph Mupita made the announcement during a strategic visit to Ghana at the beginning of 2026. He said the company is keen to partner with both public and private stakeholders to develop large-scale data centers that would enhance cloud computing, data storage, and digital service capabilities across the country.
Mupita stated that such facilities are critical to supporting Ghana’s long-term digital transformation and economic growth.
He acknowledged, however, that establishing world-class data centers would require addressing key infrastructure challenges, particularly reliable power supply, suitable land, and advanced cooling systems. MTN is therefore considering collaborative models to ensure projects meet both commercial viability and sustainability standards.
During his engagements, Mupita held discussions with MTN Ghana’s leadership, regulators, and senior government officials, including the Bank of Ghana, the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, and Minister for Communications, Digital Technology and Innovations, Sam George.
He described Ghana as a priority market that “feels like home” and reaffirmed the Group’s commitment to deepening investments in digital infrastructure and financial inclusion.
On the fintech front, Mupita highlighted plans to expand mobile money services while working closely with the central bank to strengthen fraud prevention through artificial intelligence.
The visit underscored MTN’s ambition to remain a key partner in Ghana’s digital economy, driving innovation, job creation, and inclusive growth.
MTN Ghana (Scancom PLC) is the dominant telecommunications market leader in Ghana and has been recognized as a top-performing operation within the MTN Group. The company is actively shifting from a traditional telco to a technology platform company, with a focus on fintech (Mobile Money) and digital inclusion.
Accra, Ghana – Ghana’s Ministry of Food and Agriculture has signed three Memoranda of Understanding with Chinese firm SENTUO Group Limited to drive agro-industrial growth through major new investments in processing, fertiliser production, and farmer support services.
The agreements, signed in Accra on Tuesday, include the establishment of a cashew processing plant at Sampa in the Bono Region and a fertiliser manufacturing facility. SENTUO will also roll out 30 Farmer Service Centres nationwide to improve access to quality inputs, mechanisation services, and technical support for farmers.
The projects are expected to create significant employment opportunities, particularly for young people, while enhancing value addition and reducing Ghana’s reliance on raw commodity exports.
Minister for Food and Agriculture Eric Opoku described the partnership as a major step toward the government’s Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda.
“We are ready to industrialise Ghana’s agriculture,” he said, adding that the cashew plant will process both nuts and apples to maximise returns across the entire value chain.
He emphasised the need to move from exporting raw produce to building a vibrant, value-driven agro-industrial economy.
The Chairman of SENTUO Group Limited, Xu Mingjuan, said the company’s nearly 20 years of operation in Ghana and the current government’s 24-hour economy policy had encouraged further investment. He confirmed that engineers have already started preliminary work on the projects.
The deals signal growing Chinese interest in Ghana’s agricultural transformation and are expected to strengthen food security, boost exports, and create sustainable jobs across the value chain.
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