Presidential Advisor on the 24-Hour Economy, Goosie Tanoh, has called on government agencies to take decisive and practical actions to make the 24-hour economy vision a reality. He emphasized that the success of the initiative depends largely on the commitment and innovation of the public service.
Speaking at the 12th Annual Governing Boards, Chief Directors, and Chief Executives Conference in Ho, Mr. Tanoh urged public institutions to adopt an outcome-driven approach to governance. He stressed that progress should be measured not by activities, but by visible improvements in the daily experiences of Ghanaians.
“We should move towards outcome contracts, routine public dashboards and real consequences that recognize success and correct failure in plain terms,” he said. “Success will be when we see fewer queues, faster cycle times, more manufacturing created, leakages and corruption closed, and high satisfaction among citizens and businesses with the public services that are designed to serve them.”
Mr. Tanoh outlined four specific steps every agency can begin implementing within the next 90 days to align with the 24-hour economy policy. These include appointing a “24-hour plus” champion to lead implementation, auditing and streamlining bureaucratic processes, digitizing essential public services, and fostering inter-agency data sharing to eliminate bottlenecks.
“First,” he said, “appoint a senior officer as a 24-hour champion to lead a customized implementation plan and regularly report progress to your board or commission.
Second, conduct a regulatory audit to identify all forms, permits, and processes that delay business operations or encourage rent-seeking.
Third, select your five most frequently used citizen and business services and fully digitize them from start to finish.
And finally, choose a sister institution whose work connects with yours and establish a simple data-sharing protocol to enhance coordination and efficiency.”
He concluded by encouraging agencies to see the 24-hour economy as an opportunity for transformation rather than a challenge.
“The 24-hour economy is a non-threatening way to rebuild capability, trust, and collaboration. It will succeed or fail on the strength of the public service. Let us choose to be remembered not for being obstacles, but for enabling growth and transformation,” he said.
By Bawa Musah
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