M&C group throws weight behind Ghana’s 24-Hour Economy as private sector signals readiness
With the legislative foundation of Ghana’s 24-Hour Economy now firmly in place, one of the country’s prominent trading and real estate conglomerates has stepped forward to declare its commitment, and signal that the private sector is ready to do its part in making the ambitious policy work.
M&C Group has reaffirmed its backing for the 24-Hour Economy programme, positioning itself as a key private-sector partner in what the government envisions as a fundamental shift in how Ghana’s industries operate, produce, and export. The renewed commitment follows President John Dramani Mahama’s assent to the 24-Hour Economy Authority Bill on February 19, 2026, a move that formally established the national coordinating body charged with overseeing the policy’s implementation and gave legal backing to one of the administration’s most prominent economic strategies.
Chairman of M&C Group, Michael Leslie Bartlett-Vanderpuye, made the company’s position clear in terms that went beyond general support to outline a specific commercial intent.
“The 24-Hour Economy presents a unique opportunity for Ghanaian businesses to expand production, boost exports and create jobs. M&C Group is fully committed to supporting this national vision by scaling our operations and investing in areas that strengthen Ghana’s productive capacity,” he said.
In practical terms, the company says it intends to extend operational hours across its trading, logistics, and development activities while investing in infrastructure that supports round-the-clock economic activity. The sectors it is eyeing for expanded engagement, logistics, commodity trading, energy, and property development, align closely with the areas the government has identified as central to the policy’s success.
The 24-Hour Economy programme, officially launched in July 2025, was designed around a straightforward but potentially transformative premise: if Ghana’s businesses operate in multiple shifts around the clock rather than a single daytime window, the country can dramatically increase its productivity, reduce post-harvest agricultural losses, create more employment, particularly for young people, and generate more value-added exports without necessarily building new infrastructure. The emphasis on using what already exists more intensively is both economically sensible and fiscally realistic.
Key sectors expected to benefit from the shift include agro-processing, manufacturing, logistics, tourism, digital services, and transport. The government is also working to expand 24-hour operations at major trade hubs including the Tema and Takoradi ports, a move that could significantly improve export efficiency and reduce the delays that have long added cost and friction to Ghana’s international trade.
For M&C Group, the alignment between the policy’s objectives and its own business model is evident. The company operates across minerals trading, food commodity exports, and real estate development, connecting local producers to regional and international markets. Its track record in that space has already attracted recognition, in October 2025, the group received three industry awards including Exporter of the Year, Trading Company of the Year, and a Transformational Leadership Award for its chairman.
But beyond the commercial opportunity, M&C’s leadership appears to see something larger in the policy’s success, a more competitive business environment that rewards investment in innovation and productivity, and a Ghana that is increasingly defined by what it produces and exports rather than what it imports and consumes.
Whether the 24-Hour Economy delivers on its considerable promise will depend, as M&C Group itself acknowledges, on the strength of collaboration between government and the private sector. The legislation is in place. The coordinating body is being established. And at least one significant private player has publicly committed to showing up.
About The Author
