Dr Johnson Asiama, the Governor of the Bank of Ghana (BoG), has said the 24-hour economic concept is a launchpad for harnessing the Volta Economic Corridor potentials for tangible outcomes.
He said the concept that held the strategic priority to unlocking the Corridor’s potential was about working smarter, faster, and more connected—not just working longer hours.
He said the 24-Hour economy concept therefore aimed to create a Ghana, where production, finance, and commerce operate continuously.
Speaking at the maiden Volta Economic Forum dubbed the – Hogbetsotsoza Edition, on the theme: “Harnessing the Volta Economic Corridor Potentials for the 24-Hour Economic Policy Take-off at the Reddington Beach Hotel, Whuti, in the Anloga District,” Dr Asiama said the concept had the potential to reshape production, enhance logistics, and trade across Ghana and the ECOWAS region.
He noted that the vision for the Volta Economic Corridor was not just a geographic line, but it was a dynamic artery connecting farmlands, markets, energy sources, and border trade routes.
For Infrastructure and Connectivity, the Governor said there was the need to upgrade road networks and logistics hubs, reposition border posts to facilitate trade and develop Ho and Keta as transport and industrial hubs.
He said there was need to create energy and industrial Clusters, leverage Volta Basin’s renewable energy potential, establish 24-hour processing parks, ICT hubs, and light manufacturing powered by hydro, solar, and wind.
Dr Asiama said the human capital development needed to ground the concept was to build a workforce ready for the 24-hour economy and equip the youth for the future of work through education and mindset shifts.
He said the Government alone could not deliver the potentials of the 24-hour vision, but a strong private sector participation was essential to package regional potential to attract local and international capital, and ensure policy consistency, regulatory clarity, and competitive tax frameworks.
The Governor emphasised that the role of the Bank of Ghana was to stabilise the macroeconomic situation, anchoring the cedi’s value through prudent policy, as well as create digital finance, promoting platforms like the GhanaPay and to support round-the-clock commerce.
Again, he said BOG would create access to finance, reforming credit systems, enable digital lending, and supporting Small and Medium-scale Enterprise-friendly FinTech’s.
“We shall ensure sectoral resilience and signaling Ghana’s stability and openness through green finance and reserves building,” he added.
Dr Asiama called for collective responsibility disclosing that transformation was co-created, not legislated, exhorting the region’s Assemblies, educational institutions, and traditional authorities to align with the 24-hour vision.
“Everyone, from government to financial institutions to community leaders, has a role,” he said.
Dr Asiama said the forum was not just a dialogue- it’s a launchpad for tangible outcomes: factories, financial hubs, and expanded projects, while commending the VRCC and partners for their leadership.
He pledged the unwavering commitment of the Central Bank towards making the Volta Corridor the heartbeat of Ghana’s 24-hour economy.
Mr Julius Debrah, the Chief of Staff, who was represented by Madam Oye Bampoe Addo, the Deputy Chief of Staff (Administration), commended the team’s leadership and affirmed the government’s full support for this transformational agenda.
Mr James Gunu, the Volta Regional Minister reaffirmed the collective vision and readiness of stakeholders to lead Ghana’s next phase of economic transformation under the 24-Hour Economy initiative championed by President John Dramani Mahama.
He said through the Volta Economic Corridor, “We are unlocking opportunities in agriculture, energy, logistics, and tourism to create sustainable jobs and attract significant investment into our region. With over two million hectares of productive land, this initiative is expected to create more than one million jobs and attract over one billion dollars in investment.
“Our goal is clear, to make the Volta Region the hub of agro-industrial productivity, renewable energy, logistics efficiency, and tourism excellence. We are building an economy that works 24 hours a day, driven by innovation, technology, and the hard work of our people.”
“Indeed, as we work together as government, private sector, and international community, we are proving that when vision meets collaboration, prosperity follows.”
The forum also welcomed several ministers, ambassadors, development partners, Members of Parliament, Municipal and District Chief Executives, investors, and traditional leaders, all of whom expressed great interest in partnering to make the Volta Region a beacon of sustainable economic growth.
GNA