24-Hour Economy: ‘They Can’t Even Explain It, So How Can They Implement It?’ – Dr Bawumia

According to GhanaWeb on Monday, October 19, 2026, former Vice President and New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has questioned the ability of President John Dramani Mahama’s government to implement its flagship 24-hour economy policy, arguing that the administration has failed to provide satisfactory explanations about the initiative.

Dr Bawumia criticised the government during an address at the NPP National Delegates Conference in Kumasi, where he challenged the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) to demonstrate how its employment promises would translate into actual jobs for Ghanaians.

The former Vice President argued that the 24-hour economy was presented to the electorate as a major strategy for creating employment opportunities, increasing productivity and improving the country’s economic performance. However, he questioned whether the government had made sufficient progress towards achieving those objectives.

According to Dr Bawumia, the administration’s inability to clearly explain how the policy would work raised concerns about its capacity to implement the programme effectively.

He suggested that Ghanaians deserved clear answers about the policy, particularly because employment creation was one of the major issues discussed during the 2024 general election campaign.

The 24-hour economy policy was a central part of the NDC’s campaign, with the party promising to encourage businesses and industries to operate beyond conventional working hours to boost production and create jobs.

One of the key proposals associated with the initiative was the 1:3:3 shift system, which was presented as a way of allowing three workers to share a job through three separate shifts.

Dr Bawumia questioned whether the promised employment opportunities had materialised, arguing that young people who expected to benefit from the policy were still waiting for meaningful results.

He also expressed concern about the difficulties businesses face in Ghana, including the cost of electricity and other operating expenses. According to him, businesses struggling with high operating costs could find it difficult to expand their activities and employ additional workers.

The NPP flagbearer argued that a policy designed to create jobs should also consider the conditions necessary for businesses to remain operational and competitive.

His criticism forms part of the opposition party’s broader assessment of the Mahama administration’s performance on employment, economic management and campaign promises.

However, the government has taken steps towards implementing the initiative. President Mahama signed the 24-Hour Economy Authority Bill into law in February 2026, establishing an authority to coordinate the programme and support its implementation.

The government has described the initiative as a strategy to increase domestic production, attract investment, strengthen industries and create employment opportunities for young people.

The policy is expected to support selected sectors through incentives and measures designed to encourage businesses to extend their operating hours.

Nevertheless, questions about the pace of implementation and the number of jobs that will ultimately be created remain part of the public discussion.

Dr Bawumia’s comments have added to the political debate over whether the government can deliver the employment opportunities associated with its flagship economic programme.

As the administration continues its efforts to implement the policy, the opposition is demanding clearer explanations and measurable results.

The debate is likely to remain significant as Ghanaians assess the government’s progress in fulfilling its promises and addressing the country’s employment challenges.

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