The Minority in Parliament has criticised the government’s 24-Hour Economy initiative, saying it has failed to live up to its promises and has left many Ghanaians, especially young people, still struggling to find work.
Speaking at a press briefing on Friday, November 14, former Finance Minister Dr. Amin Adams said the government won power with “lofty pledges” to transform the economy, but “those promises have not materialised”.
Dr. Adams questioned the real impact of the flagship programme.
“You remember the 24-Hour Economy launched earlier this year. It was presented as a major job creation policy—133 jobs, one job for three people, working in shifts. But what progress have we seen?” he asked.
He criticised the initiative as poorly thought out and confusing.
“Today the 24-Hour Economy policy is a mix of scattered ideas with no clear plan for implementation,” he said.
Dr. Adams stressed that the biggest victims of the stalled programme are ordinary citizens.
“The same youth who were promised shift jobs are still walking the streets jobless. Farmers and traders are also struggling because demand remains weak,” he noted.
Touching on funding, he said the entire programme is projected to cost about US$4 billion, with the government expected to contribute between US$300 million and US$400 million.
He also questioned the accuracy of budget allocations.
“We are entering the second year since the programme was launched, yet the 2026 budget does not clearly provide the stated GH¢90 million allocation for the 24-Hour Economy. The minister mentioned GH¢110 million, but the appendix shows only GH¢90 million,” he stated.
Breaking down the figures, Dr. Adams explained that GH¢70 million is earmarked for goods and services, while GH¢20 million is for capital expenditure, an amount he described as “tokenism” for what should be the government’s main development blueprint.
“This, no doubt, is helpless, it cannot deliver the 133-job model the programme promised,” he noted.
The Minority’s comments highlight growing concerns that the 24-Hour Economy, a policy designed to boost economic activity and expand job opportunities, remains largely unimplemented nearly two years after its launch.
SourceThe Ghana Report
