The Ghana Police Service has announced the creation of a 24-Hour Economy Security Secretariat to ensure continuous public safety and to support the smooth, crime-free implementation of the 24-Hour Economy Policy.

READ ALSO: VIDEO: We’ll Irrigate Over 2 Million Hectares Of Land Under 24-Hour Economy – Mahama

The Secretariat would coordinate the security apparatus of the much-touted and anticipated policy from the National Police Headquarters.

READ ALSO: VIDEO: Mahama Declares 24-Hour Economy Agenda A ‘National Reset’

The Director General of Private Security Organization of the Ghana Police Service, COP Daniel Kwame Afriyie, announced this at the passing of 238 recruits from the Regional Police Training School in Ho.

“In line with its proactive measures, the Police the administration has established a new unit at the Police headquarters known as the 24-hour Economy Security Secretariat to oversee the security coordination of the implementation of the 24-hour Economy”, he said.

He said the police are up to the task to play their “cardinal role” toward the success of the 24-Hour Policy, which was launched by President Mahama on Wednesday, July 2, 2025.

The 24-Hour Economy was a flagship manifesto promise of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) during the 2024 electioneering.

READ ALSO: Tema and Takoradi ports to operate under 24-hour economy soon – Mahama

The 24-Hour Economy was developed to introduce a shift-based working system in industries such as manufacturing, agro-processing, healthcare, transportation, and retail, aiming to reduce unemployment in key sectors.

COP Afriyie said the police are up to task, ready to protect workers “at all times to go about their legitimate economic and social pursuits without undue hindrances by societal delinquents and avowed agents of violent crimes and lawlessness.”

He said that the current administration has undertaken a major reinforcement of the specialized police operational units to combat the emerging trend of security demands.

“The changing phase of security in Ghana, which is characterized by emerging complex and cyber-related crimes, violent crimes, communal conflicts, and changes in the modus operandi of criminals among others, continues to place a huge demand on personnel of the Ghana Police Service to deliver services that are more diverse, complex, skilled, and specialized to deal with these menaces confronting us”, he acknowledged.

238 recruits, made up of 31 Under Cadets and 207 general recruits, participated in the passing out ceremony and will soon be formally admitted as personnel of the Police Service.

The recruits were taken through academic work and field training exercises to gain hands-on experience.

The academic work comprises three sections, namely, Police Science, Law Studies, and Social
Science. The field work includes riding, driving, swimming, Public Order Management, Incident and Disaster Management, among others.

PW/SGT Dedjoe Sophia, National Police Training School, Accra, emerged as the Overall National Best Under-Cadet Officer.

G/R Gyarteng Evans of the Regional Police Training School, Koforidua, won the overall National Best Recruit in the Recruits’ Standardized Examinations.

G/CPL Agyaponh-Mensah Eric was adjudged the Best Under-Cadet Officer for this Regional Police Training School in Ho, while G/R Amedome-Reigns Emmanuel was the best recruit and overall best for the Regional Police Training School in Ho.

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The Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Students Loan Trust Fund (SLTF), Dr. Saajida Shiraz, has confirmed that SLTF recently disbursed second-semester loans to 19,703 students across 135 public and private institutions.

Speaking at the launch of the No Fee Stress initiative, Dr. Shiraz highlighted that this marks the first time in four years the fund has paid second-semester loans.

She also revealed that first-semester loans have already been disbursed to 38,440 students across 145 institutions this academic year.

“The Student Loan Trust Fund Board this year has disbursed first-semester loans to a total of 38,440 students across 145 public and private institutions,” Dr. Shiraz stated.

“For the first time in four years, we have begun paying second-semester loans,” she continued. “Just three days ago, 19,703 students from 135 institutions received their loans.”

Acknowledging past challenges, Dr. Shiraz said, “The days when loans were approved but not disbursed, and the complacency that hindered the fund’s core mandate, are now behind us.” She confidently affirmed, “The challenges we faced in meeting our core mandate are a thing of the past.”

Dr. Shiraz also expressed profound appreciation to the GET Fund Administrator for their unwavering support. “I appreciate the GET Fund Administrator for privatizing the tertiary education reset agenda and committing the necessary funds to help SLTF meet its commitments.”

Established to expand access to higher education, the Students Loan Trust Fund (SLTF) provides crucial financial support to students in both public and private institutions by offering loans that cover tuition fees and other educational expenses.

Over the years, SLTF has played a vital role in enabling thousands of students to afford tertiary education, thereby contributing significantly to national development through investment in human capital.

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According to President John Dramani Mahama, the recently implemented “No Fees Stress” policy has cleared academic user fees for 15,000 first-year tertiary students.

At the policy’s formal launch in Koforidua, Eastern Region, on Friday, July 4, 2025, the announcement was made.

“As we speak, academic user fees have been cleared for an initial 15,000 students under this policy. This is just the beginning. And today, with our students, educators, parents, and development partners, I am pleased to declare the No Fees Stress Policy officially launched,’ he stated.

The President restated his administration’s resolve to ensure that all Ghanaians, irrespective of their financial situation, have access to higher education.

“Let it be known across this land that, from today, no Ghanaian child will be denied tertiary
education simply because they cannot afford the academic fees.

“This is the path to a more just society. This is how we build a future where no dream is
deferred, and no potential is wasted,” he said.

One of Ghana’s main equity-based initiatives to remove financial obstacles to postsecondary education is the “No Fees Stress” policy.

Beginning with the 2025 academic year, the state will pay for all first-year students’ academic-related costs at public postsecondary institutions.