The Chief Executive Officer of Oro Oil Ghana Limited, Maxwell Commey, has called on the President-Elect, John Dramani Mahama, to use Oil Exportation as a pivotal strategy for enhancing economic resilience and competitiveness in the 24-hour economy.

According to him, transitioning to a 24-hour economy presents a significant opportunity for a nation with a robust agriculture sector, saying, the export of palm oil alone to African countries like Nigeria is vast enough to create employment opportunities for millions of Ghanaian youth if the government establishes an enabling environment for private sector participation.

Speaking in an interview with journalists, the Board Member of the Tree Crops Development Authority Ghana highlighted that, if the new government aims to build the economy, they need to prioritise local production over excessive reliance on imports especially, sharing of local food produce as hampers by corporate entities during Christmas.

He added that his company is the largest exporter of Palm Oil in Ghana but struggles to meet both domestic and international demands saying “I only meet 30% of just a single client in Nigeria hence, government empowerment by providing a Land Bank will go a long way to help support the private investors in Agriculture.

“The Accelerated Economic Development Counsel will be efficient if the new government removes partisan politics in every aspect of their operations. The government should involve industry players with good track records on decisions that affect them rather than mere political agendas,” he noted.

Regarding Youth Unemployment; Mr. Commey noted that the incoming government should create an enabling environment for the private sector investors to generate jobs.

Also, the time has come for entrepreneurs in farming to mentor the youth in agriculture to make it more attractive while the country adheres to commercial farming.

The expansion of these sectors through a 24-hour operational framework could enhance Ghana’s economic diversification, reduce unemployment, and increase Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). The current state of Ghana’s agricultural economy is a critical pillar of its national economic framework, contributing significantly to GDP, employment, and international trade.