The 24-hour Economy is a policy intervention by the next John Mahama led NDC government to encourage and support certain businesses and companies to operate 24/7, preferably in a three-shift system of 8 hours each, by creating an enabling environment that promotes productivity, competitiveness and well-paying jobs.
The 24-hour Economy will be mainly anchored on Mahama’s overarching vision to create sustainable jobs for Ghanaians.
This will be achieved through his agenda to: modernize and mechanize agriculture; provide incentives for private sector to thrive; promote agro processing and manufacturing; transform Ghana into an import substitution and export- led economy among others.
The 24-hour Economy policy will be a major boost for John Mahama’s import substitution and export drive.
This will stabilize our local currency, improves our reserves, bring down inflation and interest rates, create more employment opportunities and improve livelihoods.
Also, selected public institutions with large customer traffic such as Ports, Harbors, Customs, Passport office, DVLA, among others will be part of the 24-hour Economy.
It will also be implemented within the context of other national development initiatives, such as education and training, health services, agriculture, the provision of affordable housing for workers, efficient public transport, efficient justice delivery, among others.
It is all part of an ambitious drive by the NDC/Mahama administration to take Ghana to the next level in the global economy.
There will be no limit to the sectors the 24-hour Economy initiative will target.
By Gloria Dzifa Ashinyo