Ghana’s Finance Minister, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has announced a bold new national reset strategy in the mid-year budget, unveiling the 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme.
This is an ambitious initiative aimed at boosting production, creating sustainable jobs, and modernising the economy.
Central to this plan is the Volta Economic Corridor, a transformative project inspired by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s original Volta vision.
Addressing Parliament, the Finance Minister said that President John Mahama officially launched the initiative earlier this month. The 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme is designed to reduce Ghana’s dependence on imports, expand local production, enhance market access, and build a competitive, skilled workforce suited for a dynamic global economy.
At the heart of this agenda is the Volta Economic Corridor—described as a game-changer for Ghana’s industrial and logistical future. The project aims to harness the economic and environmental potential of the Volta Lake and its surrounding regions, repositioning it as a key growth pole in the country’s development journey.
“The Corridor revives and expands on Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s vision of the Volta Project as a hub for agro-industry, trade, and transport—now adapted to today’s economic realities and regional opportunities,” the Minister noted.
The programme will be delivered through four main pillars:
- Grow24: Targets over two million hectares of irrigated farmland for all-year-round agriculture, moving away from traditional seasonal farming;
- Make24: Establishes agro-industrial parks focusing on textiles, pharmaceuticals, and food processing;
- Show24: Develops tourism clusters and hospitality hubs around the Volta Lake to drive the tourism sector;
- Connect24: Converts the lake into a major inland water transport route to reduce haulage costs and link all corners of Ghana.
To support this transformation, the Ministry of Finance will in the 2026 Budget introduce targeted incentives aimed at attracting private investment, encouraging enterprise growth, and generating decent, well-paying jobs.
The government, the Minister stressed, will act as a facilitator and not dominate the private-led initiative.
“This is about resetting the economy for the Ghana we want,” the Minister declared, positioning the Volta Economic Corridor as a cornerstone of a modern, self-reliant, and globally competitive Ghana.
