Ghana is stepping into a new dawn. With the government’s launch of the 24-Hour Economy & Accelerated Export Development program, there is renewed hope that our country can unlock more of its economic potential. M&C Group has stepped forward, saying in no uncertain terms: we are ready to walk this path, for the benefit of Ghanaians, the private sector, and the nation at large.
What is the 24-Hour Economy & Why It Matters
The 24-Hour Economy policy is more than just letting businesses stay open longer. It is a comprehensive strategy to reorganize how we produce, export, and use our human and material resources. Key ideas include:
· Operating industries, factories, logistics, agricultural processing, and services in multiple shifts to maximize use of labor, infrastructure, and time.
· Incentivizing private investment, especially in value-adding sectors rather than mere raw material exports.
· Reforming legal, regulatory and utility rate frameworks (labor laws, tax laws, electricity etc.) so that businesses can operate more efficiently, reliably, and with lower barriers.
· Creating jobs, especially for youth, and improving productivity, competitiveness, and export capacity.
How M&C Group Aligns With the 24-Hour Economy
M&C Group is not new to big visions. Over the years, the Group has built its reputation in property, logistics & trading, minerals, energy, properties, and management consultancy.
Here’s how M&C is positioning itself to support and benefit from the 24H+ agenda:
1. Operating Shifts / Extended Hours in Key Operations
Some of M&C’s businesses; such as logistics, trading, gold refining, energy, and even property developments can be structured to run in multiple shifts. For example, storage, refining, and transport don’t necessarily need to stop at sunset. By extending working hours and ensuring round-the-clock operations, M&C can increase throughput, reduce waste, and better serve clients.
2. Investing in Infrastructure and Utilities Readiness
To run 24-hour operations, reliable power, water, security, and maintenance are essential. M&C can invest in backup power, energy management systems, improved safety and shift personnel to ensure no breaks in service. This is not just for profit, it means employing more people, including night shifts, security personnel, technical staff, cleaners, etc.
3. Leveraging Policy Incentives
The government’s 24H+ incentives (tax breaks, operational shift rewards, fast-tracking of regulatory services, priority access to electricity and water for firms operating multi-shift schedules) can be utilized by M&C. That means reduced costs in key areas as M&C ramps up hours of operation.
4. Boosting Value Addition and Export Capacity
M&C has already emphasized value addition in its export trading and commodities businesses. The 24-Hour Economy policy gives more impetus to this: processing, refining, packaging and exporting more finished or semi-finished goods. That creates more jobs domestically and increases earnings from trade.
5. Employment Creation
With more operations around the clock come the need for more staff. M&C is poised to hire for roles that would not ordinarily be needed in single-shift operations: night shift supervisors, maintenance teams, security, transport, quality control, logistics, etc. This will especially help absorb young people looking for work.
Challenges & How M&C Plans to Overcome Them
M&C acknowledges there are hurdles to fully embracing a 24-hour economy; it is not just about staying open longer. Some of the issues and how M&C plans to address them include:
· Utility reliability: Power outages, water shortages, and infrastructural constraints are recurring problems. M&C is exploring investment in backup systems and sustainable technologies (e.g., solar, generators) to mitigate downtime.
· Staff welfare and safety: Working night shifts and extended hours pose health, safety and work-life balance concerns. M&C aims to put in place strong shift-management policies, rest schedules, security measures, and incentives/compensation for off-peak hours.
· Regulatory and legal compliance: Ensuring labor laws, safety regulations, environmental rules are all honored, even with shift work, will be vital. M&C plans to engage with government and relevant agencies to ensure compliance and best practices.
· Cost implications: Operating at night often means additional costs; lighting, security, maintenance. But with the policy’s incentives, economies of scale, and improved productivity, M&C expects the overall return on investment to be favorable.
What This Means for Ghana
When a major private sector player like M&C Group commits to implementing the 24-Hour Economy policy, the ripple effects are many:
· More employment opportunities, especially for youth and segments of society that currently have limited prospects.
· Increased production and export value, reducing Ghana’s dependence on exporting raw materials and strengthening our industrial base.
· Better utilization of infrastructure (factories, roads, ports, utilities), making investments more efficient.
· Boosted investor confidence in both local and foreign when policy and private sector move together.
· Broader economic inclusiveness, with more people benefiting from the gains of growth.
M&C believes that with proper planning, investment, and a shared national commitment, the 24-Hour Economy policy can help push Ghana to new heights: sustained growth, more jobs, and a future where potential is more fully realized.