The 24-hour economy policy, a flagship initiative of President John Mahama’s administration, has been met with skepticism from Ekow Vincent Assafuah, the Member of Parliament for Old Tafo. Launched in July 2025 with the ambitious goal of stimulating economic growth, creating jobs, and boosting exports, the policy envisioned incentivizing businesses to operate around the clock. Assafuah, however, contends that the government has failed to demonstrate any concrete commitment or actionable plan to translate this vision into reality. He argues that the initiative, despite its initial fanfare, lacks the necessary structural foundations and enabling environment to succeed, essentially rendering it an empty promise. Furthermore, he challenges the government’s claim of creating jobs through this policy, highlighting the absence of any tangible evidence of job creation nine months into its implementation.
Assafuah’s primary critique revolves around the government’s perceived lack of a structured approach to implementing the 24-hour economy. He argues that simply declaring a 24-hour economy is insufficient without creating the necessary supporting policies and infrastructure. This includes factors such as ensuring reliable power supply, addressing security concerns associated with nighttime operations, and providing incentives for businesses to extend their operating hours. He contends that the government has failed to address these fundamental prerequisites, rendering the policy ineffective and unsustainable. He uses the example of nurses working in shifts, highlighting that this existing practice is facilitated by established systems within the healthcare sector, and not a result of government imposition. He suggests that a similar systematic approach is required for the 24-hour economy to function effectively across other sectors.
The Old Tafo MP further questions the government’s commitment to the initiative, citing the absence of any budgetary allocation or specific plans detailing how the policy will be implemented. He challenges the government’s claim of creating jobs through the 24-hour economy, emphasizing the lack of evidence to support this assertion. He points out that nine months after the policy’s launch, there is no indication of any job creation, neither in government reports nor in the national budget. This, he argues, underscores the government’s lack of seriousness in pursuing the initiative and raises doubts about its genuine commitment to its stated objectives. He casts doubt on the government’s ability to deliver on this promise, even if given an extended timeframe, due to what he perceives as a fundamental lack of understanding and planning.
A crucial aspect of Assafuah’s critique lies in his emphasis on the role of the private sector in driving a 24-hour economy. He argues that the government’s role should be to create an enabling environment for businesses to thrive, rather than directly intervening in their operations. This includes implementing policies that encourage private sector investment, reducing bureaucratic hurdles, and ensuring a stable and predictable regulatory framework. He suggests that the government’s current approach lacks this focus on private sector enablement, thereby hindering the potential success of the 24-hour economy. He maintains that without a conducive environment for businesses to operate around the clock, the policy is destined to fail.
Furthermore, Assafuah criticizes the government’s communication regarding the 24-hour economy policy. He argues that the government has been vague about the specifics of the initiative, failing to clearly articulate how it will be implemented and what benefits it will bring. This lack of clarity, he contends, fuels skepticism and undermines public confidence in the policy. He emphasizes the importance of transparent and effective communication in gaining public support and ensuring the successful implementation of any major policy initiative. He asserts that the government’s current approach, characterized by grand pronouncements without concrete details, is unlikely to generate the necessary momentum for a successful 24-hour economy.
In conclusion, Assafuah’s skepticism towards the 24-hour economy policy stems from what he perceives as a lack of concrete planning, insufficient support for the private sector, and a lack of transparency in communication. He argues that without addressing these fundamental shortcomings, the policy is unlikely to achieve its stated objectives of stimulating economic growth and creating jobs. He challenges the government to demonstrate a genuine commitment to the initiative by providing a detailed roadmap for implementation, including specific measures to support businesses and create the necessary infrastructure for a 24-hour economy. He believes that until such measures are taken, the policy will remain a mere slogan, failing to deliver on its promises and ultimately disappointing the citizens it aims to benefit.
