The government of Ghana has opened the Expression of Interest portal for the 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme (24H+). Young Ghanaians between the ages of 18 and 35 can now register for startup business loans ranging from GH₵5,000 to GH₵500,000. Free digital skills training and internship placements (subject to partner company capacity) are also part of the package.
If that sounds like a standard government press release, here is the practical translation: this is one of the most accessible formal funding windows Ghana has opened to young entrepreneurs in years if implemented as advertised. The portal is live. The money is structured as concessionary loans, not grants, but the interest conditions and the attached training support make it meaningfully different from walking into a commercial bank.
That distinction matters because access to affordable startup capital is one of the biggest structural barriers facing young Ghanaian entrepreneurs. Whether the 24H+ program delivers at scale depends on implementation, but the registration window is open now, and the sectors on offer are broad enough to cover a wide range of businesses.
What Is the 24H+ Programme?
The 24H+ programme is the operational arm of Ghana’s broader 24-Hour Economy policy, which President John Dramani Mahama has described as “a holistic, integrated multisectoral programme that allows our producers to attack the key bottlenecks holding production back in agriculture, fisheries, manufacturing, and the creative industries.”
The 24-Hour Economy Authority was formally established in law in February 2026, when President Mahama assented to the 24-Hour Economy Authority Bill. That legislation created the legal framework; 24H+ is the programme through which the government is now channeling financing, training, and incentives to businesses and individuals willing to participate in extending Ghana’s productive hours across key sectors.
The Expression of Interest portal went live in May 2026. It is hosted at 24hplus.gov.gh and is open to young people, farmers, investors, traders, and manufacturers across a range of priority industries.
What Young Ghanaians Can Access
For applicants aged 18 to 35, the program bundles three types of support together. These are not separate programs you apply to individually; they are offered as part of a single registration pathway for young entrepreneurs.
Startup business loans ranging from GH₵5,000 to GH₵500,000, facilitated through the Development Bank Ghana on concessionary terms. Equity financing is also available through the Venture Capital Trust Fund for those whose business models are better suited to equity rather than debt.
Free digital skills training delivered through Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centers operating in all 16 regions of Ghana. This component makes the program accessible outside Accra, which is a meaningful design choice given how concentrated most formal support programs are in the capital.
Internship placements with companies that have partnered with the 24H+ initiative. These are described as guaranteed by the government, though availability may depend on partner capacity.
Priority consideration for financing is given to cooperatives and trade associations. Individual applicants can still register, but those applying as part of an organized group may find the process smoother.
Loan Tiers and Currency Breakdown
The loan range is wide by design. A GH₵5,000 loan is appropriate for a small food vendor, a seamstress buying a second machine, or a content creator purchasing equipment. GH₵500,000 is a substantially larger commitment suited to a manufacturing setup or a formally structured agro-processing business. Most applicants will fall somewhere between those two figures.
| Loan Tier | GHS | USD (approx.) | GBP (approx.) | RMB (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum | GH₵5,000 | USD 438 | GBP 324 | RMB 2,973 |
| Mid-range example | GH₵50,000 | USD 4,381 | GBP 3,242 | RMB 29,732 |
| Maximum | GH₵500,000 | USD 43,812 | GBP 32,416 | RMB 297,318 |
Exchange rates are indicative and based on Bank of Ghana daily interbank mid-rates for May 14, 2026: USD/GHS = 11.4125, GBP/GHS = 15.4246, and CNY/GHS = 1.6817. Rates fluctuate; check the Bank of Ghana or a reliable converter for current figures before making financial decisions.
Financing at the upper end of the range will require a credible business plan and, in all likelihood, some demonstrated revenue history or sector experience. The programme’s concessionary framing suggests below-market interest rates, but the specific terms have not been publicly detailed yet. Applicants should clarify the rate structure directly through the 24H+ portal before committing.
For context on how this compares to conventional lending in Ghana, commercial bank loans for businesses currently carry interest rates that are often substantially higher than concessional development finance. A Development Bank Ghana facility is typically structured at lower rates, often with grace periods attached. That gap is what makes the 24H+ financing meaningful for early-stage businesses that would otherwise either borrow expensively or not borrow at all. You can read more about the landscape in our guide to getting a loan in Ghana in 2026.
How to Register on the 24H+ Portal
The registration process runs through the official government portal at 24hplus.gov.gh. The steps are straightforward.
- Visit 24hplus.gov.gh and navigate to the “Contact Us” section on the homepage to access application options.
- Click on the Expression of Interest Form to begin registration.
- Select the category that applies to you. Youth entrepreneurs seeking startup funding should choose the entrepreneurship or business option. Other categories cover farmers, investors, traders, and manufacturers.
- Complete and submit the form. The 24H+ Secretariat will review submissions.
The government has confirmed that additional opportunities will be added in future phases of the program, so registering now does not close the door to later-stage support. If you are a young Ghanaian exploring this for the first time, registering early gives you visibility with the Secretariat before queues develop.
The portal does not yet publish a formal document checklist for loan applications. Applicants seeking mid-to-upper loan amounts should prepare basic business records where available, including business registration documents, tax information, and a simple business plan. Informal or first-time entrepreneurs should still register, but they should wait for the 24H+ Secretariat or financing partners to confirm the exact documentation required.
Business Incentives Available Under 24H+
Beyond the loans and training, the 24H+ program offers a set of performance-based operating incentives for qualifying participating businesses. These are aimed at making it financially viable to operate extended hours and compete in export markets. The incentives include the following.
| Incentive | Who It Applies To |
|---|---|
| Reduced corporate income tax rates | Businesses operating multiple production shifts |
| Preferential access to utilities | 24H+ participating businesses |
| Import duty exemptions on machinery and raw materials not available locally | Registered 24H+ businesses |
| VAT relief | Selected sectors (details to be confirmed per sector) |
| Export performance rebates | Businesses generating export revenue |
| Tax holidays for startups | Manufacturing, ICT, agro-processing, and tourism sectors in qualifying locations |
The import duty exemption for machinery deserves attention from anyone in manufacturing or agro-processing. One of the consistent complaints from Ghanaian producers is that importing equipment to upgrade operations is expensive due to duties, which discourages investment in productivity. If this exemption is implemented properly, it could reduce capital costs meaningfully for 24H+ participants in those sectors.
Who Else Can Register?
The 24H+ portal is not limited to youth aged 18 to 35. The Expression of Interest process is also open to farmers, investors, traders, and manufacturers across the following sectors.
- Agro-ecological parks
- Pharmaceutical innovation
- Textile and garment manufacturing
- Air cargo logistics
- Creative industry academies
The youth-specific benefits (free TVET training, internships, startup loans) are age-gated at 18 to 35, but adults outside that age range who operate businesses in the sectors above can still register for incentives and financing through the general applicant track. Cooperatives and trade associations, regardless of the age of their members, are flagged as priority applicants for the funding components.
For anyone exploring business opportunities in Ghana beyond this specific program, our article on industries in Ghana that make money covers the broader landscape of viable sectors for entrepreneurs in the country.
What Applicants Should Know Before Registering
A few practical points worth noting before submitting an Expression of Interest.
This is a registration, not an approval. Submitting the form opens a conversation with the 24H+ Secretariat. It does not guarantee a loan or internship placement. Think of it as formally raising your hand.
Concessionary does not mean free. The loans facilitated through the Development Bank Ghana are debt instruments. They will carry interest rates and repayment schedules. The advantage over a commercial bank is the rate and the terms, not the elimination of repayment obligation. Assess your business’s capacity to service debt before applying for amounts you cannot realistically repay.
Sector focus matters. The program is designed around specific industries. Agro-processing, textiles, creative industries, pharmaceuticals, and logistics are the primary targets. Businesses that fit cleanly into one of these categories are more likely to receive favorable treatment in the review process.
The TVET training is a real asset. Free digital skills training across all 16 regions, delivered through established institutions, is not a marginal benefit. For young Ghanaians outside Accra, this may be the most immediately valuable component of the program, particularly for those not yet ready to take on loan obligations but looking to build marketable skills tied to the 24H+ partner employer network.
The full legal structure behind the 24-Hour Economy initiative is covered in our detailed guide to Ghana’s 24-Hour Economy Authority Law.
Sources
- Graphic Online: “Young Ghanaians can now register for up to GH₵500,000 loans under 24-Hour Economy for start-up businesses” (May 13, 2026)
- Asaase Radio: “Young Ghanaians can access startup loans, training under 24-Hour Economy plan” (May 2026)
- MyJoyOnline: “Young Ghanaians can now register for up to GH₵500,000 loans under 24-Hour Economy for start-up businesses” (May 2026)
- 24H+ Official Programme Portal: 24hplus.gov.gh
- 24H+ Private Sector Incentives (official)
- Bank of Ghana: Daily Interbank FX Rates (May 14, 2026)
