By Elizabeth Larkwor Baah
Tema, Jan. 08, GNA – Some residents of the Tema West municipality have expressed dissatisfaction with the pace and scope of the implementation of the government’s 24-Hour- Economy policy, describing it as falling short of expectations raised during the presidential campaign.
They said the 24-Hour-Economy was presented as a flagship policy aimed at expanding production, creating jobs, and improving the efficiency of key sectors through round-the-clock economic activity.
They told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in a random survey that the policy was yet to make a visible impact on their livelihoods or local businesses.
Mr. Joseph Lamptey, an entrepreneur, said the policy was a major factor in his voting decision.
“We were made to understand that businesses would operate day and night and that transport and trade would increase; what we see now is the same system as before. Nothing has really changed for us,” Mr. Lamptey said.
Madam Lily Appiah, a resident of Tema Community Two, who runs grocery shop, questioned the level of commitment to the policy, noting that without improved security and stable electricity, operating at night remained difficult.
“If the government wants us to work 24 hours, they must first provide light, security, and support. Right now, it is not practical for small traders like us,” she said.
Mr. Daniel Ofori, an electronic appliances dealer, said he had hoped the policy would create new opportunities for youth employment, noting that “a 24-hour economy should mean more jobs and flexible working hours. Many young people are still unemployed, and there is no clear programme linking this policy to youth job creation,” she said.
Another resident and a civil servant, named Elijah, said that the policy lacks a clear implementation framework.
“If this policy is serious, the government must explain how it will work, which sectors are involved, and what timelines we should expect,” he said.
“So far, the public has not been adequately informed; working late means higher costs and personal risk. Without support such as security patrols or reduced utility tariffs, many of us cannot operate beyond normal hours,” he added.
Dr Worlanyo Mensah, an economist, argued that the 24-Hour-Economy should not be regarded as a standalone economic policy but rather as an economic reaction that naturally emerges from a fully industrialised economy.
Dr Mensah explained that the 24-Hour Economy was not an implementable policy in itself, but a by-product of industrial expansion, noting that the government would face significant challenges in clearly explaining its implementation framework and in establishing measurable indicators to assess its effectiveness.
He said: “How are they going to measure the 24-Hour Economy in the Northern Region, Eastern Region, Volta Region, Ashanti, and Greater Accra? There’s no instrument they’re going to use to measure it; a 24-hour economy is simply an industrial revolution; so, they need to industrialise, whether into agriculture, agribusiness, agro processing, direct manufacturing, pharmaceutical industries, local technology, or aviation.”
He further explained that industrialisation necessarily required increased inputs of capital, labour, and other productive resources to meet rising demand, adding that rather than promoting the concept of a 24-hour economy in abstraction, the government should prioritise the establishment of well-resourced industrial zones in every district and region.
Dr Mensah said such an approach would drive large-scale industrialisation, absorb the growing number of unemployed youth, and enable citizens to experience the practical benefits of continuous economic activity.
He emphasised the need for a comprehensive review and restructuring of existing labour laws to ensure fair compensation and protection for workers who invest extended hours, time, and physical effort.
GNA
Edited by Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo/Benjamin Mensah