Dr. Samuel Afriyie has raised serious concerns over the National Democratic Congress’s (NDC) much-touted 24-hour economy proposal, questioning its viability and long-term impact on Ghana’s economy.
The lecturer at Kumasi Technical University (KsTU) challenged the practicality of the policy in an interview on Wontumi Radio/TV, pointing to global examples where similar initiatives have either struggled or failed entirely.
According to him, even developed economies have only managed to implement 24-hour economic systems in selected cities, not nationwide.
“In Africa, Kenya made a similar attempt but it didn’t succeed,” he noted, adding that “in the West, only major cities like New York or London manage to sustain such systems, and even those come with complex infrastructure.”
He cast doubt on the NDC’s claim of injecting \$4 billion into the policy, demanding clarity on how such a massive investment would translate into actual returns for the country.
“If they are going to use $4 billion as said, they should tell us how much revenue or returns we will get from this as a country,” he questioned.
Dr. Afriyie also pointed out that any attempt to launch a 24-hour economy must be backed by critical prerequisites, including enhanced security, dependable electricity supply, and a functioning support system for workers who would operate outside traditional hours.
Without these basics, he warned, the programme could collapse under its own weight.
Beyond infrastructure concerns, he also demanded specifics on job creation, urging policymakers to provide clear estimates on the number of direct and indirect employment opportunities the initiative would create.
He cautioned that without transparency and a solid implementation framework, Ghanaians could view the policy as empty political rhetoric.
“We need the details. Otherwise, it would be seen as a bogus policy,” he concluded.
