The 24 hour economy idea that the flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Former President John Dramani Mahama announced was suggested to him by a professor hence his inability to explain in detail how the plan would work, Deputy Communications Director of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Ernest Kofi Owusu-Bempah Bonsu, has said.
To Mr. Owusu-Bemoah, the NDC and Mr Mahama are unable to provide a blueprint to convince Ghanaians how this proposal would work because it is not their original idea.
“He is bereft of idea, he doesn’t have any idea. A Professor suggested this idea to Mahama and that Professor is worried that the NDC’s explanation is not the way the idea will work, they don’t have a clue how to espouse the idea,” he said adding that “I give Mhamaa one week to come out on it.”
Mr Mahama proposed the ’24hr Economy ‘ project when he met with officials of the country’s mother workers union on Tuesday, November 7, 2023 at the start of his engagement with key stakeholders in a quest to return to power.
The NDC subsequently explained that the 24-hour economy proposal will focus on 13 industries.
The party said the proposal is part of an ambitious drive by the next Mahama administration to take Ghana to the next level in the global economy.
According to information contained in a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) sighted by 3News.com, “The 24-hour economy will therefore primarily, but not exclusively, focus on: “ 24-hour Agro-processing, 24-hour Pharmaceutical industry, 24-hour Manufacturing industry, 24-hour Construction, 24-hour Extractive industry (mining and quarrying), 24-hour Sanitation and waste management and 24-hour Leisure and hospitality industry.”
The rest are; 24-hour Digital start-ups and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), 24-hour Financial services, 24-hour Retail centers, 24-hour Transportation services, and selected public institutions with large customer traffic such as Ports and Harbors, Customs, Passport Office, DVLA, among others will be part of the 24-hour economy.”
“The 24-hour Economy will be a deliberate policy intervention by the next NDC/Mahama government to encourage and support certain businesses and companies to operate 24/7, preferably in a three-shift system of 8 hours each, by creating an enabling environment that promotes productivity, competitiveness and well-paying jobs,” the document further clarified.
