Gov’t to Pilot 24-Hour Economy Markets with Women’s Bank Support

The Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs has announced plans to pilot 24-Hour Economy market centres across Ghana‘s Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to drive local economic growth and women’s empowerment.

Delivering the keynote address at a two-day private sector forum in Bolgatanga, sector minister Ahmed Ibrahim outlined government’s vision to create an enabling environment for continuous economic activity, particularly benefiting women entrepreneurs.

“We are creating the policy environment, providing security infrastructure, and working with Regional Coordinating Councils (RCCs) and MMDAs to pilot 24-hour market centres with provision for Women Development Bank,” he stated.

The initiative, a flagship under the Mahama-led government’s broader 24-Hour Economy policy, aims to stimulate round-the-clock productivity nationwide. “In practical terms, this means shift systems in factories, extended market hours, and nighttime public services,” Ibrahim explained.

He urged Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives to embrace the policy to maximise its economic and social potential. “The 24-Hour Economy is a reality and should be a game-changer,” he emphasised.

Under the pilot, market centres in city hubs will operate continuously, integrating essential services such as pharmacies, police and fire stations, health posts, and fuel stations to support business continuity.

“These market centres will be well lit with solar powered energy for business activities at night to boost the local economy. This is what President Mahama is bringing,” Ibrahim added.

The announcement was made during the forum themed “Enhancing Social Cohesion and Social Contract Through Empowerment of Women and Youth in Three Northern Regions of Ghana,” organised by the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) in partnership with the UNDP and UNFPA.

The NDPC also unveiled its investment strategy toolkit to guide eight districts across the Upper East, North East, and Upper West regions to identify competitive advantages and attract targeted private investment, thereby enhancing domestic revenue mobilisation.

As part of the strategy’s rollout, a series of private sector investment forums will be held in regional capitals to deepen collaboration between private investors, local authorities, philanthropic bodies, and women and youth groups.

In the Upper East Region, the Garu, Bawku West, and Bongo districts are key beneficiaries, with forums tailored to unlock opportunities in agribusiness, services, and market infrastructure.

Stakeholders at the forum lauded the proposed 24-Hour Economy markets, highlighting their potential to create jobs, improve safety for night traders, and boost local value chains if complemented by accessible financing and reliable energy.

Analysts believe that integrating the proposed Women Development Bank into the initiative could unlock inclusive economic gains, enhance formalisation, and promote resilience among micro and small businesses, particularly for female traders who dominate market retail in Ghana.

As Ghana’s government pushes forward with the policy framework, entrepreneurs and local governments alike await practical timelines for the rollout of these 24-hour market centres, seen as a critical step towards a more productive, inclusive, and modernised economy.

Read More