Mahama: 24-hour economy taking shape factory by factory

President John Dramani Mahama has said Ghana’s 24-hour economy agenda is gradually becoming a reality, with investments such as the expanded Zonda Tech vehicle assembly plant demonstrating the kind of industrial activity the programme seeks to promote.

According to President Mahama, the 24-hour economy is intended to encourage factories and businesses to operate continuously, increase production, create jobs and expand Ghana’s capacity to export.

He made the remarks when he commissioned Phase III of the Zonda Tech Ghana Limited vehicle assembly plant in Tema.

“The 24-hour economy is not merely a slogan; it is taking shape factory by factory, factory floor by factory floor,” President Mahama said.

He said what was happening at the Zonda Tech facility, where vehicles were rolling off the production line, reflected the practical objective of the government’s 24-hour economy programme.

“What we are witnessing on this assembly floor—vehicles rolling off the production line day and night—is precisely what the agenda was designed to achieve,” he added.

President Mahama said the expansion of Zonda Tech would significantly increase the company’s production capacity while creating employment opportunities for Ghanaians.

The project is expected to almost double direct employment at the company and generate approximately 1,000 additional indirect jobs across logistics, maintenance, component supply, distribution and other supporting industries.

He said such investments were critical to creating decent jobs for present and future generations while strengthening Ghana’s manufacturing base.

The President stressed that government’s industrialisation agenda was not simply about establishing factories but ensuring that manufacturing activities generated wider economic opportunities.

He said the vehicles produced at Zonda Tech would support several sectors, including agriculture, mining and construction, while also facilitating trade within Ghana and across the region.

President Mahama said Ghana’s automotive industry must eventually move beyond assembling vehicles to producing components locally.

He identified batteries, tyres, wiring harnesses, seats, glass, plastics and metal parts as areas where local businesses could participate in the automotive value chain.

The President urged Zonda Tech to explore local component production, saying this would strengthen domestic supply chains, retain more value in the Ghanaian economy and create additional employment.

He said government would continue working to create an environment that encouraged investors to expand production and build stronger links with Ghanaian businesses.

President Mahama assured investors that government would continue to improve infrastructure, simplify regulatory procedures, strengthen industrial incentives and invest in technical education and workforce development.

He said the government expected businesses participating in the 24-hour economy to respond by increasing production, expanding their workforce, developing local suppliers and exploring export opportunities.

The President said Ghana’s location, combined with the African Continental Free Trade Area, provided an opportunity for manufacturers to use the country as a production base for the wider African market.

He therefore described the growth of manufacturing companies such as Zonda Tech as an important part of Ghana’s efforts to transform its economy from one largely dependent on imports to one driven by production and exports.

President Mahama said the government would remain committed to policies that make manufacturing more competitive and create opportunities for young Ghanaians.

“The 24-hour economy is not merely a slogan,” he reiterated, “it is taking shape factory by factory, factory floor by factory floor.”