Mahamudu Bawumia labels 24-hour economy policy as campaign propaganda

Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has dismissed President John Mahama’s 24-hour economy policy as unrealistic "campaign propaganda." Speaking at a National Thanksgiving Service in Sunyani, Bawumia challenged the administration to demonstrate any tangible results or jobs generated by the initiative. He argued that after nearly two years, the policy has failed to materialize or provide any significant relief to Ghanaians facing financial struggles, despite the government's narrative of economic recovery.

Bawumia further questioned the government's competence in managing the initiative, suggesting that officials do not fully understand the policy they are attempting to implement. He labeled the program a tool for deceiving the electorate rather than a viable economic strategy. During his address, the NPP flagbearer also pointed to unfulfilled promises regarding the Agenda 111 hospital projects as evidence of what he described as a pattern of failed implementation by the current administration, while promising that the NPP would offer more practical social interventions.

In response to these criticisms, Abdul-Nasser Suglo Alidu, the Chief Programme Officer of the 24-hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Secretariat, defended the policy. Alidu stated that Bawumia’s critiques stem from a fundamental misunderstanding of the initiative's scope. He clarified that the 24-hour economy is not limited to simple three-shift operations but is a comprehensive strategy designed to enhance Ghana’s productive capacity and competitiveness in global markets. According to Alidu, various sectors are already successfully utilizing multi-shift systems as part of this broader economic framework.

Alidu compared the potential long-term benefits of the 24-hour economy to the historical economic growth of South Korea, emphasizing that such structural changes take time to yield full results. While the government maintains that the policy remains a cornerstone for industrialization and job creation, the opposition continues to frame it as a central failure of the current presidency. The debate highlights a deep divide between the two major parties over the effectiveness of the administration's flagship economic recovery programs.