The John Mahama administration plans to have its 24-hour economy program fully operational by the end of 2026, the Minister of Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare-Addo, said on Thursday.
Speaking in an interview with Kumasi-based Nhyira FM, Opare-Addo emphasised that the policy aims to transform the traditional eight-hour workday system into a continuous 24-hour economic structure, a process he said requires time and legislative support.
“Changing the entire structure of an economy that has been in place for years, from an 8-hour to a 24-hour system, cannot happen in less than 12 months. It requires legislative measures and directives, and those processes are underway,” he said.
Full impact
The minister encouraged Ghanaians to anticipate the full integration of the policy later this year.
“Everyone who is honest will see that progress is being made. Changing the structure of the economy is not a one-time event; it is a process that takes time to unfold. We are clearly on track, and by the end of this year, we expect to see the full impact of the 24-hour economy,” Opare-Addo added.
Frustration
The government says the initiative is intended to boost productivity, create jobs, and enhance the efficiency of public and private sector operations across the country.
Opare-Addo’s comments also come as the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) Augustus Andrews Nana Akwasi says the party is under growing pressure from grassroots supporters demanding jobs and political appointments one year after President John Dramani Mahama returned to office.
Speaking at a press briefing on Monday (8 December) the chairman said party activists who invested their “money, resources and everything” during the 2024 campaign expect to be compensated now that the NDC controls government.
“When you work for somebody and the person wins power, you have to compensate the person,” he said, adding that the expectations have intensified in the Ashanti Region, traditionally an NPP stronghold but where the NDC posted its strongest showing to date.
“Pressure on me”
He noted that the party achieved 34% of the presidential vote in the region in the 2024 national elections and secured seven parliamentary seats, a development that has broadened internal demands for recognition.
According to him, President Mahama has already made significant inroads in addressing regional concerns, with about 75 national appointments reportedly going to individuals from the Ashanti Region.
However, he acknowledged the region’s size and longstanding grievances mean that the efforts have not fully eased tensions.
“There is a lot of pressure on me,” he said. “Everybody is demanding.”
“You know the region is big. Though it is not enough, the grassroots are calling for more and everybody needs his own share,” he said.
He urged NDC branch leaders and supporters to remain patient as the government continues to fill key roles.
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