Parliament has passed the 24-Hour Economy & Accelerated Export Development Authority Bill, 2025, following the adoption of a report by the Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs, which recommended its approval.
The bill, which was read for the third time and passed by the House on Friday, February 6, 2026, seeks to provide a legal framework for the establishment of the 24-Hour Economy Authority to coordinate and oversee the implementation of Ghana’s 24-hour economy policy nationwide.
The objectives of the bill include promoting productivity, accelerating export development, expanding job opportunities, and improving the utilisation of national infrastructure through continuous economic operations. The Authority is also expected to mobilise investment, provide policy direction, and ensure regulatory compliance across sectors involved in the 24-hour economy initiative.
During the consideration of the bill, lawmakers from both the Majority and Minority caucuses engaged in lengthy deliberations, with discussions centring on its economic impact, security implications, and implementation framework.
Members of the Minority caucus raised concerns during the debates, cautioning that the policy could pose security risks and cause inconvenience to the public if not carefully implemented.
The Majority caucus, however, maintained that the potential benefits far outweigh the challenges, assuring the House that adequate security and regulatory measures would be put in place to ensure the policy’s successful implementation.
First laid before Parliament in late 2025, the legislation seeks to transform Ghana’s economy into a fully operational 24-hour system. It provides for the establishment of a 24-Hour Economy Authority to serve as the central coordinating body for the nationwide rollout of the policy.
Under the bill, the Authority will be responsible for harmonising public and private sector initiatives, mobilising investment, and ensuring the availability of regulatory, security, and infrastructural support needed to sustain round-the-clock economic activity.
The 24-hour economy policy was a key campaign promise of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) ahead of the 2024 general elections and has been touted by the government as a major driver of job creation, increased productivity, and accelerated economic growth.
By: Ekow Annan/newsalertgh.com
