Economist and senior New Patriotic Party (NPP) figure Kwame Pianim has been appointed to President John Dramani Mahama’s 12-member Presidential Advisory Group on the Economy.
The advisory body, announced on January 15, 2026, is made up of seasoned professionals drawn from academia, public service, and the private sector. Its mandate is to provide strategic guidance to government on stabilising Ghana’s economy, promoting sustainable growth, and restoring investor confidence.
A statement from the Presidency confirmed that Vice President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang is also a member of the group, underscoring the administration’s emphasis on high-level coordination and inclusive economic decision-making.
Members of the Presidential Advisory Group on the Economy
The full list of appointees includes:
Kwame Pianim
Vice President Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang
According to the presidency, members are expected to leverage their diverse expertise to support evidence-based policymaking and help address Ghana’s current economic challenges.
Pianim’s Views on the 24-Hour Economy
Kwame Pianim’s appointment has drawn attention given his earlier public criticism of President Mahama’s proposed 24-hour economy policy. In 2024, Pianim questioned the feasibility of implementing the policy within a single term, citing structural challenges such as unreliable electricity supply and concerns over worker safety.
“People are talking about a 24-hour economy, but we don’t even have reliable electricity for one shift,” he remarked at the time, adding that similar initiatives attempted during the Kufuor administration struggled due to comparable constraints.
Pianim has consistently argued that such a policy must be carefully planned and supported by strong infrastructure before implementation.
Overview of the 24-Hour Economy Policy
The government’s 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme is designed to transform Ghana’s import-dependent, low-value, raw-material-exporting economy into a production-led, competitive system operating around the clock. The long-term objective is to drive productivity, create jobs, enhance food security, and promote sustainable economic growth.
Despite its ambition, the policy has faced scepticism from some economists. Analyst Joe Jackson has previously warned that the initiative could fail without improvements to the business environment, competitive input pricing, and clear incentives to encourage voluntary participation by the private sector.
Commitment to Inclusive Economic Governance
The formation of the Presidential Advisory Group on the Economy signals the Mahama administration’s intention to draw on a broad spectrum of expertise, including voices from across the political divide. The inclusion of Kwame Pianim, a respected economist and prominent NPP figure, has been widely interpreted as a move toward inclusive consultation in shaping Ghana’s economic recovery and long-term development strategy.
Source: Yen.com.gh
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