Municipal and District Chief Executives (MDCEs) in the Volta Region are set to sign contracts today to commence the implementation of the government’s 24-Hour Economy Markets Project, marking a significant step towards operationalising the policy at the local level.
The signing ceremony, scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 30, will take place at the Conference Room of the Volta Regional Coordinating Council (VRCC) and is expected to be attended by all MDCEs in the region.
The Volta Regional Minister, Mr James Gunu, disclosed this in a Facebook post, inviting stakeholders and the public to witness the event.
“This milestone event marks a significant step toward expanding economic opportunities, enhancing local commerce, and advancing our collective development agenda across the region,” he stated.
Mr Gunu added that the project, which will be implemented across all 18 Municipal and District Assemblies in the region, is expected to transform local economies and improve livelihoods.
The development follows a similar exercise in the Oti Region, where MDCEs signed their contracts on April 29.
The 24-Hour Economy initiative, a flagship policy of the government, is aimed at transitioning Ghana from an import-dependent, eight-hour work structure to a 24-hour, production-driven and export-oriented economy.
The policy is expected to boost national productivity, promote industrial growth and strengthen economic resilience.
Under the programme, businesses and selected public institutions are expected to operate in three eight-hour shifts—a move projected to generate over 1.7 million jobs by 2026, while contributing to currency stability.
Speaking to Adom News, the Oti Regional Minister, Mr John Kwadwo Gyapong, said the contract signing underscores the government’s commitment to fulfilling its campaign promises ahead of the 2024 general elections.
He urged contractors to demonstrate professionalism and adhere strictly to project timelines, while calling on Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to intensify supervision to ensure efficiency and timely delivery.
Meanwhile, the Dean of MDCEs in the Oti Region, Mr Prosper Addo, together with other chief executives, described the initiative as a transformative intervention for local development.
They expressed optimism that the successful execution of the projects would stimulate socio-economic growth and create new opportunities for traders, particularly market women, as well as residents across the region.
