Education is the foundation of Mahama’s 24-Hour Economy - MoE

The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, says the 24-Hour Economy initiative launched by President John Dramani Mahama on Wednesday, July 3, 2025, cannot be delivered without prioritising education as its foundation.

In an exclusive interview with Accra-based television station monitored by Pretertiary.com, the Education Minister said that no aspect of the 24-Hour Economy policy can succeed without an educated population.

“In delivering on the 24-hour economy, even if you want to succeed in fighting galamsey, you would need a trained mind. That has to be an educated mind,” the Member of Parliament for Tamale South constituency stated.

The Minister of Education, speaking on JoyNews’ PM Express, said, “You want to sell goods and know the prices of goods. You want an educated person to be able to do that. You want to control population, birth control, and others.

You want an educated woman to understand the value of doing that. So education, as I said, is the bedrock of development.”

His comments followed the launch of the flagship 24-Hour Economy policy by President John Mahama on describing the event as a significant national moment that marked a shift “from policy or from slogan to action.”

“Today, we had the rare opportunity of President John Dramani Mahama launching one of his major flagship [initiatives], and as he described it, from policy or from slogan to action,” the Education Minister told JoyNews.

The launch of the 24-Hour Economy initiative follows months of extensive preparatory work and stakeholder engagements across sectors. The initiative represents a bold national commitment to reduce our dependence on raw material exports and the over-importation of finished goods.

Described by the government as a “game changer,” the policy is expected to create thousands of new jobs, increase national output, and unlock value across supply chains.

Companies in the country that enroll in the flagship economy programme will benefit from tax incentives, access to stable electricity, and enhanced nighttime security.

Goosie Tanoh, Presidential Advisor on the 24-Hour Economy, outlined the framework of the policy at the launch event, noting that it is built on three core pillars: transforming production, improving supply chains and market systems, and strengthening human capital.

The President John Dramani Mahama 24-Hour Economy policy seeks to unlock the full potential of our economy by promoting value addition, enhancing productivity, and creating sustainable jobs across all regions.

Vice-President, Prof Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, says the rollout of the policy will begin along the Volta Corridor, where the Volta Lake will serve as a vital economic channel by connecting the North and South through a more efficient and integrated route for commerce and trade at all times.

“We are optimistic about the future this initiative promises. I commend Mr. Goosie Tanoh and all stakeholders whose work has laid the foundation for this important national milestone,” the Vice-President said in a social media post.