By Godwill Arthur-Mensah, GNA
Accra, Nov. 12, GNA – Mr Patrick Yaw Boamah, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for Okaikwei Central, says the government’s central agenda of “Resetting Ghana: Jobs and Prosperity,” has failed to deliver meaningful results for the youth after nearly two years in office.
Speaking to the media in Accra ahead of the presentation of the 2027 Budget Statement and Economic Policy on Thursday, Mr Boamah said Ghanaians were yet to experience the promised economic transformation and job creation touted by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) administration.
He argued that the much-publicised 24-Hour Economy policy, particularly the proposed “1-3-3 Shift System,” had not materialised despite repeated assurances by the government.
The lawmaker said the absence of visible implementation of the initiative had denied thousands of young people the employment opportunities that were expected to be generated under the programme.
“The central theme of the government was ‘Resetting Ghana: Jobs and Prosperity,’ but after almost two years, the reality is that there are no significant jobs to point to and the cost of living remains high,” he pointed out.
Mr Boamah said the recent nine per cent wage adjustment for public sector workers was inadequate in the face of rising electricity tariffs and increasing prices of goods and services on the market.
He contended that many households continued to struggle with economic hardships, while businesses were grappling with high operating costs that constrained growth and employment creation.
The MP said the upcoming budget should provide concrete measures to stimulate job creation, support local enterprises, and ease the burden on workers and vulnerable groups.
He urged the government to prioritise policies that would attract investment, expand opportunities for the youth, and provide relief to businesses affected by rising utility and production costs.
Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, the Minister of Finance, is expected to present the 2027 Budget Statement to Parliament at 1800 hours on Thursday, November 12, 2026, to outline the government’s revenue and expenditure plans as well as policy measures for the next fiscal year.
The NDC administration has promoted the 24-Hour Economy as a major strategy for boosting productivity, creating employment and accelerating economic growth through round-the-clock operations in selected sectors of the economy.
Government officials have argued that the policy would expand economic activity and generate opportunities, particularly for the youth.
The 2027 Budget comes amid heightened public expectations over job creation, inflation management, utility costs, and broader economic recovery.
Both the Majority and Minority Caucuses have indicated that the budget would be closely scrutinised for measures aimed at addressing the cost of living and sustaining macroeconomic stability.
GNA
Edited by Christabel Addo