The Minority in Parliament has raised concerns over the absence of the much-discussed 24-hour economy policy in the Mahama administration’s 2025 budget. According to the caucus, neither President John Mahama nor the Finance Minister addressed the initiative in the State of the Nation Address or the government’s policy document.
During his closing remarks in Parliament on Friday, March 28, Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin questioned the feasibility of the 24-hour economy programme. He highlighted the contradiction between Mahama’s previous assurances and the budget’s lack of reference to the initiative.
“It is interesting that His Excellency assured us that his finance minister would outline the famous policy of a 24-hour economy in his budget,” Afenyo-Markin stated. However, he noted that there was no mention of the programme, raising doubts about the government’s commitment to the policy.
Mahama’s 24-hour economy proposal aims to boost Ghana’s economic growth by encouraging round-the-clock business operations. This initiative is expected to create more jobs, attract investment, and enhance productivity across various sectors. However, its implementation requires significant infrastructure, security, and energy supply—factors the opposition believes have not been fully addressed.
The Minority argues that if the 24-hour economy policy were truly a priority, it would have been a key feature in the 2025 budget. The absence of details has led to speculations that the government may not have a concrete plan for implementation.
The ruling party has yet to respond to the concerns raised by the Minority in Parliament. Meanwhile, economic analysts and business owners are eager to see how the Mahama administration will address the 24-hour economy in future economic plans.
The 24-hour economy policy was a major campaign promise, but its absence from the 2025 budget raises questions about its feasibility. As debates continue, Ghanaians await further clarification from the government on whether this ambitious initiative will become a reality.
