Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Former President John Dramani Mahama, has stated that his proposal for a 24-hour economy could be a significant game-changer for Ghana.
The initiative, he said, is included in the manifesto for the 2024 general election,
He believes that it would help to boost business growth and employment opportunities, particularly for the youth and job seekers. Mr Mahama spoke about this during the Ninth Ghana CEO Network Business Cocktail event held in Accra.
The theme for the event was “The CEO Imperative: How are CEOs Responding to the New Economic Reality?” He further added that if the NDC secures the win, they will prioritize this policy along with other initiatives to enhance economic growth, create more jobs, and improve the standard of living for Ghanaians.
“We shall work with you to build the Ghana we want together,” Mr Mahama said.
The next NDC administration would pursue projects and programmes to transform Ghana into a fully-fledged 24-hour economy by optimising available resources, he said.
“I acknowledge the massive support for the initiative by the Trades Union Congress, civil society organisations, journalists, lecturers, labour consultants, CEOs and captains of industry, personnel from the creative arts industry, drivers, traders, and the teeming unemployed youth of Ghana.”
“God willing, from January 7, 2025, we shall implement a series of transition measures to address the economic decline and set Ghana on the path to recovery.”
Mr Mahama said the proposed policy forms part of the NDC’s vision “to build the Ghana We Want”.
“To build the Ghana we want together with the people will be premised on building an industrialised, inclusive, and resilient economy that creates well-paying jobs and creating an equitable, healthy, and prosperous nation.”
He mentioned developing well-planned, safe communities while protecting the natural environment; building effective, efficient, and dynamic institutions for national development; and strengthening Ghana’s role in African and international affairs as part of the proposal.
“This might be classified as an idea whose time has come due to Ghana’s self-inflicted economic crisis today because the 24-hour economy initiative was well-thought-through and captured on page 105 of the NDC’s 2020 People’s Manifesto.”
Its roots emanated from the 40-year National Development Plan of the National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) put together when he was President, Mr Mahama said.
“Unfortunately, the present government discarded the 40-year plan and replaced it with a Ghana Beyond Aid plan that has turned “Ghana into a beggar nation”.
He said that stripped to the essentials, the 24-hour policy would be a three-shift work schedule in many sectors with an intent to transform Ghana into a self-sufficient and export-led economy.