24-Hour Economy Ghana Faces Major Hurdles: IPPA Highlights 2026 Budget Implementation Shortfalls

Discover why Ghana’s flagship 24-Hour Economy initiative, promised for job creation in the 2024 elections, struggles with credible execution in the 2026 national budget according to the Institute of Public Policy and Accountability (IPPA).

Introduction

Ghana’s 24-Hour Economy policy emerged as a cornerstone promise during the 2024 General Parliamentary and Presidential Elections, aiming to boost job creation and economic activity through round-the-clock operations in key sectors. However, the Institute of Public Policy and Accountability (IPPA) has issued a stark warning: the policy lacks credible implementation accomplishments in the 2026 Budget. Led by researcher Kwasi Nyame-Baafi, IPPA’s analysis reveals a massive funding gap, with only GH¢90 million allocated against an estimated GH¢48 billion (approximately US$4 billion) required for full rollout. This shortfall underscores broader challenges in Ghana 2026 budget implementation, including missing operational frameworks and timelines. In this guide, we break down IPPA’s findings pedagogically, explaining policy evaluation basics, fiscal accountability, and what effective implementation entails for transformative economic policies like the 24-Hour Economy.

Analysis

IPPA’s detailed review of the 2026 Budget exposes critical gaps in the 24-Hour Economy Ghana rollout. National Coordinator Goosie Tanoh outlined the policy’s ambitious scope, requiring substantial investment to enable night-shift operations in manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, and services. Yet, budgetary realities paint a different picture, highlighting systemic issues in policy implementation challenges.

Budget Allocation Shortfall

The core issue is funding inadequacy. IPPA notes the 2026 Budget earmarks just GH¢90 million for the 24-Hour Economy— a mere 0.18% of the GH¢48 billion total cost. This token allocation signals a disconnect between electoral promises and fiscal planning. For context, effective policies require phased funding aligned with milestones; here, the sum barely covers pilot initiatives, let alone nationwide expansion. Pedagogically, this illustrates the principle of budget credibility: governments must match rhetoric with realistic allocations to build investor confidence and achieve job creation targets.

Lack of Implementation Framework

Beyond funding, IPPA criticizes the absence of essential elements for execution. The policy lacks an operational framework, measurable objectives, timelines, institutional arrangements, and sectoral rollout milestones. Without these, the 24-Hour Economy remains symbolic rather than substantive. In policy design terms, this violates best practices from frameworks like the World Bank’s Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (PEFA), which emphasize clear KPIs (key performance indicators) such as employment generated per sector or GDP contribution from extended hours.

Broader Budget Credibility Issues

IPPA extends its scrutiny to overall fiscal performance. In 2025, the government executed only 34% of allocated promotion expenditures and disbursed GH¢9 billion out of GH¢13 billion for the Big Push Infrastructure Project. Such under-delivery raises doubts about financing 2026 priorities like the Big Push Infrastructure Agenda and Women’s Development Bank. As IPPA states, persistent shortfalls erode public confidence and hinder flagship policies’ transformative potential.

Summary

In summary, IPPA’s report on the 24-Hour Economy policy Ghana concludes that the 2026 Budget fails to deliver credible implementation. With a 99.82% funding deficit, no detailed roadmap, and historical execution weaknesses, the initiative risks stalling. IPPA urges a budget reevaluation grounded in realistic projections, alongside a fully costed plan featuring financing strategies, leadership structures, and trackable outcomes.

Key Points

Practical Advice

For policymakers, citizens, and analysts evaluating Ghana economic policies, here’s actionable guidance drawn from IPPA’s insights and standard public policy practices:

Steps for Effective Policy Rollout

1. Conduct Cost-Benefit Analysis: Before budgeting, quantify full costs using tools like discounted cash flow models to justify GH¢48 billion for 24-Hour Economy.
2. Develop a Roadmap: Outline phases—e.g., pilot in Accra (Year 1), national scale-up (Year 2)—with KPIs like 500,000 new jobs by 2028.
3. Secure Diverse Funding: Blend domestic revenue, PPPs (public-private partnerships), and international loans; avoid over-reliance on volatile oil revenues.
4. Monitor via Dashboards: Use digital platforms for real-time tracking, as recommended by Ghana’s Ministry of Finance guidelines.
5. Engage Stakeholders: Consult businesses, unions, and regions for buy-in, reducing implementation resistance.

Citizens can hold leaders accountable by reviewing budget documents on the Ministry of Finance website and demanding transparency reports.

Points of Caution

Implementing ambitious policies like the 24-Hour Economy Ghana 2026 carries risks if unaddressed:

• Fiscal Overstretch: Low execution (e.g., 2025’s 34%) could balloon debt, currently at 88% of GDP per IMF 2025 data.
• Public Distrust: Symbolic allocations undermine confidence, potentially fueling electoral backlash.
• Opportunity Costs: Diverting scant funds from health or education hampers holistic growth.
• Implementation Delays: Without timelines, sectors like agriculture may miss night-irrigation benefits, perpetuating unemployment at 13.4% (Ghana Statistical Service, 2024).
• Inflationary Pressures: Sudden shifts to 24-hour operations without infrastructure could spike energy demands and costs.

Comparison

Contrasting the 24-Hour Economy with past Ghanaian initiatives reveals patterns in budget implementation challenges Ghana. For instance, the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) program (2017-2020) promised similar agricultural boosts but faced funding shortfalls, achieving only 60-70% of targets per Ministry of Food and Agriculture evaluations. PFJ allocated progressively higher sums (e.g., GH¢1.2B in 2019), enabling 1.6 million jobs—far better than the current 0.18% for 24-Hour Economy.

Promised vs. Actual Allocations

This table shows how underfunding hampers scale compared to more resourced efforts.

Legal Implications

No direct legal violations arise from IPPA’s critique, as budget allocations fall under executive discretion per Ghana’s Public Financial Management Act (2016). However, Article 179 of the 1992 Constitution mandates realistic budgeting, potentially inviting judicial review if shortfalls breach fiscal responsibility principles. IPPA’s call for a costed plan aligns with Section 21 of the Act, requiring detailed implementation strategies for major policies. Non-compliance could trigger Auditor-General scrutiny or parliamentary probes, but no litigation is reported as of November 2025.

Conclusion

The Institute of Public Policy and Accountability’s analysis lays bare the chasm between Ghana’s 24-Hour Economy ambitions and the 2026 Budget’s realities. With minimal funding, absent frameworks, and credibility concerns, the policy’s job-creation promise hangs in balance. By heeding IPPA’s advice—revising budgets, detailing plans, and prioritizing execution—Ghana can salvage this initiative. This case study teaches vital lessons in fiscal governance: policies thrive on detail, not declaration. Stakeholders must act to transform rhetoric into economic reality, fostering sustainable growth amid global challenges.

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