The Minister for Government Communications, Felix Ofosu Kwakye, says the Mahama administration is taking carefully planned and deliberate steps toward the implementation of Ghana’s proposed 24-hour economy, including the establishment of a specialised authority to oversee its rollout.
Mr. Ofosu Kwakye, who also serves as Member of Parliament for Abura Asebu Kwamankese, said the government is determined to avoid the implementation challenges that undermined similar initiatives in the past.
“We don’t believe in just sloganeering. When you want to set up a system, it is better to be meticulous and take the time required to set up the structures properly, so that when you take off, you don’t suffer some of the implementation hiccups that other programmes have suffered,” he stated.
According to the Minister, the creation of the 24-hour economy authority will provide the institutional framework needed to engage both public and private sector organisations effectively.
“It is our hope that by the close of this year, more organisations will come on board because the authority has been set up and they will have the capacity to engage,” he said.
Mr. Ofosu Kwakye emphasized that the initiative is largely aimed at addressing youth unemployment by expanding economic activity beyond traditional working hours.
“There are millions of Ghanaian youth who want to work. They are highly educated and want some employment so they can make a meaningful living,” he noted.
“The 24-hour economy is designed to expand the economy and create room for more employment for our youth.”
The government maintains that the policy, once fully operational, will boost productivity, enhance service delivery, and create sustainable jobs across key sectors of the economy.