24-Hour Economy: Jobs expected within one to two years – Goosie Tanoh

Story by: Regina Bless

Presidential Adviser on the 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme, Augustus Goosie Tanoh, has indicated that Ghanaians could begin to see jobs created under the government’s 24-hour economy programme within the next one to two years.

His comments come amid calls by the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the government to demonstrate the practical implementation of the initiative, nearly two years after its introduction.

Speaking to Channel One News on the sidelines of the Africa Bio Conference on Tuesday, October 27, Mr Tanoh disclosed that the government was focusing on between 10 and 15 priority projects out of the 32 projects outlined under the programme.

According to him, employment opportunities are expected to emerge as the selected projects are implemented over the next one to two years.

“Many things are happening, and we have a deal book of our 32 projects. We are concentrated on the first 10 to 15, and once those are rolled out, you will see the jobs coming in about a year or two,” he said.

Mr Tanoh explained that the programme was designed not only to create jobs but also to strengthen local production and ensure a consistent supply of raw materials to industries.

He noted that improving the availability of locally produced raw materials would enable factories to operate more efficiently, reduce production delays and increase their output.

“You will begin to see the jobs coming and also begin to see that because we’ve created the basis of production, where industries don’t have to wait for their raw materials because they are being grown and supplied, industries don’t sit still,” he added.

The presidential adviser further indicated that the government was targeting an increase in industrial capacity utilisation from its current estimated range of 36 to 42 per cent to between 80 and 90 per cent.

He stressed that employment growth would be driven by increased industrial production and rising demand, adding that the government was working to establish the conditions necessary to achieve these objectives.

The expected timeline and employment projections will be closely watched as the government advances its 24-hour economy agenda and responds to calls for clearer evidence of the programme’s implementation and its anticipated benefits for Ghanaians.