Accra, Parliament House — The Member of Parliament for Nhyiaeso, Dr. Stephen Amoah, has called for the withdrawal of the proposed 24-Hour Economy Programme to allow for broader bipartisan consultation and stronger technical preparation before implementation.
Speaking in an interview, Dr. Amoah clarified that his concerns are not about the concept itself but about what he describes as Ghana’s recurring policy culture of inadequate preparation.
“I have a lot of issues with the 24-Hour Economy — not because it is not a good concept,” he stated. “But as a country, whether NDC or NPP, we often roll out policies without proper research, data collection, value chain development, or frameworks.”
According to him, the proposed programme requires extensive groundwork before any authority or structure is established to implement it.
Call for Data-Driven Approach
Dr. Amoah stressed that a successful 24-hour economy must be built on solid data, clearly defined value chains, and sector-specific strategies.
“It needs a lot of basis. It needs serious data collection. It needs properly developed segments along its value chain,” he said.
He noted that while certain aspects of the public sector — such as health and security services — already operate around the clock, the core focus of the proposed policy appears to be on manufacturing and job creation.
“The question is: which specific areas of the manufacturing sector are we targeting? What preparation has been put in place? We have a very weak entrepreneurial ecosystem,” he argued.
Entrepreneurship Critical to Success
Dr. Amoah emphasized that entrepreneurship would be a crucial component of any successful 24-hour economic model.
“Even if you have the best framework as a country, the actors must be entrepreneurial. They must be enterprising and capable of filling the gaps within our ecosystem,” he said.
Referencing the One District, One Factory (1D1F) initiative, he suggested that inadequate entrepreneurial capacity had undermined some projects.
“It was a fine concept, but many beneficiaries could not deliver what the nation expected,” he remarked.
“Like Buying a Plane Without an Airport”
The Nhyiaeso MP likened the current approach to implementing the 24-Hour Economy to purchasing infrastructure without foundational systems in place.
“To me, it is like buying a plane without an airport. It is not that buying a plane is bad. But before you buy one, you need an airport,” he explained.
He maintained that while he supports the idea of a 24-hour economy in principle, significant preparatory work must precede its rollout.
Call for Bipartisan Collaboration
Dr. Amoah therefore urged government to temporarily withdraw the programme and allow stakeholders across the political divide to contribute to its development.
“They should withdraw it and allow some of us to come on board, because it is a good idea. But it must be properly developed,” he said.
He cautioned against pursuing policies primarily for political capital rather than sustainability.
“Most of the time we focus on the political gains and goodwill, but we do not pay enough attention to sustainability and what must be done before implementation,” he added.
Dr. Amoah reiterated that entrepreneurship must be a central pillar within any 24-hour economic framework if the policy is to achieve long-term success.
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Source: Clement Akoloh||parliamentnews360.com
