Ghana Chamber CEO warns government of missed 24‑Hour Economy opportunity

Mark Badu‑Aboagye, chief executive of the Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said the 2026 Mid‑Year Budget Review failed to provide concrete backing for the government’s flagship 24‑Hour Economy programme. He described the policy as the country’s most important development blueprint and warned that without clear budget alignment and strong policy statements, Ghana could miss a critical chance to transform its economy.

Badu‑Aboagye stressed that implementation, not just policy design, is the core challenge. He pointed to high financing costs – interest rates around 16.5% and a policy rate of 14% – as major obstacles for private‑sector investment in manufacturing, along with high electricity costs. He called for an enabling environment that lowers these barriers, arguing that businesses cannot be expected to drive industrialisation under current conditions.