Director of Communications and Spokesperson for Dr Mahamudu Bawumia's campaign, Denis Miracle Aboagye, insists that the concept of a 24-hour economy, which the National Democratic Congress (NDC) proposes to introduce, is an end product rather than a single policy.
Speaking on PM Express on JoyNews, Mr Aboagye explained that a 24-hour economy results from numerous specific policies implemented with the aim of having an economy running 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
However, he criticised the NDC for failing to highlight the necessary policies to achieve this goal.
“The 24-hour economy is not a policy, it is an outcome, an end product. The NDC is trying to hoodwink the entire country, deceive us into voting for them, and come to do nothing. So tell us something new. And if you are not going to tell us something new, tell us specifically what you are going to do to enhance it. But don't come and throw something ambiguous at us,” he said.
Mr Aboagye told the host Evans Mensah that although Ghana is not a 24-hour economy currently, there are parts of the country’s business districts that operate for 24 hours.
“When you go to Tiptoe Lane, people are engaged in productive economic activities. When you go to Oxford Street, that is people's economy. They work 24 hours. There are places in Obetsebi Lamptey where people are working 24 hours. There are pharmacies on Caprice that operate 24 hours a day. It is an end product. There is a factory in my area that is operating 24 hours. As we speak, they are working in the factory. They will close at 7 a.m.,” he stated.
In 2023, the Presidential Candidate of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Mahama, promised to implement a plan to turn Ghana into a 24-hour economy should he be re-elected into office.
He emphasised that the initiative would provide tax incentives and other advantages to businesses that voluntarily participate in the programme. According to him, the overarching goal is to generate additional employment opportunities for the people of Ghana.
The NDC’s General Secretary, Fifi Fiavi Kwetey, in March this year called the proposed policy transforming.
He highlighted that this policy not only aims to tackle the country's escalating unemployment crisis but also intends to reshape its economic landscape.
But the 24-hour economy policy as drawn varied reactions from the general public.
Political opponents have largely criticised the idea saying it is not a novelty, and cannot transform the Ghanaian economy in any way. On the other hand, some have lauded the proposal as one that could be a game-changer for Ghana’s economy.
Many of those against it believe aspects of Ghana’s economy already operate a 24-hour system, whereas others argue the country lacks the right infrastructure to efficiently run such a system.
Meanwhile, labour expert, Austin Gamey has said that Ghana needs a comprehensive policy for a 24-hour economy
He called for a detailed explanation of how the 24-hour economy would be implemented, urging both the present government and future governments to highlight how they would implement the policy and also commit themselves to it.
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