In a landmark legislative move, Parliament has passed the 24-Hour Economy Authority Bill, establishing a formal statutory body to drive the government’s ambitious round-the-clock economic agenda.
The bill’s passage follows an intense floor debate, marking a significant win for the Majority, who view the policy as the “silver bullet” for Ghana’s unemployment crisis and industrial stagnation.
The newly formed 24-Hour Economy Authority is tasked with supervising 24/7 operations across several high-impact sectors, including: Manufacturing & Industrial Growth, Logistics and Trade, Healthcare Services, and Digital and Financial Services
Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga hailed the legislation as a “critical institutional framework” for national transformation.
Speaking to the press shortly after the vote on Friday, Ayariga emphasized that the policy is designed to force a shift from the traditional eight-hour workday to a multi-shift system.
“The NDC in Parliament is happy to announce that we have just passed the 24-hour economy authority bill,” Ayariga stated.
“If the country is working 24 hours, it means we need more labour. There will be two shifts, three shifts… this is how we create decent work for our youth.”
Ayariga pointed to the economic hardships of the last eight years—specifically high inflation, currency volatility, and the controversial financial sector clean-up—as the primary drivers of current unemployment.
He argued that the 24-hour model would help recover lost ground by: Stimulating fresh investment into local factories; Reducing the tax burden through increased productivity; and Encouraging businesses to expand their workforce to cover night shifts.
Despite the Majority’s optimism, the Minority Caucus staged a fierce opposition. Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, Ranking Member of the Economy and Development Committee, warned that the new Authority is an unnecessary addition to an already bloated public sector.
Duplication of Roles: The Minority argues that existing trade and industry ministries already have the mandate to oversee these activities.
Waste of Taxpayer Funds: Critics suggest the Authority will increase public expenditure without a guaranteed return on investment.
Nkrumah urged the government to focus on “value for money” rather than creating “unnecessary bureaucracy.”
With the bill passed, the government is expected to begin the recruitment and structural setup of the Authority. The focus will now shift to how the private sector responds to the incentives promised under the new 24-hour framework.
