The Secretariat of the 24-Hour Economy programme has clarified that it has no jurisdiction or oversight responsibility over the proposed 24-hour markets being developed across the country, despite the public perception linking the two initiatives.
Presidential Advisor on the 24-Hour Economy, Goosie Tanoh, said the misunderstanding has resulted in the Secretariat being dragged into legal disputes over market projects it does not control.
Speaking at an engagement with news editors in Accra on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, Mr Tanoh explained that the 24-hour economy programme is often misunderstood as being centred on two separate initiatives: the broader economic transformation agenda and the establishment of 24-hour markets.
He said the planned markets, expected to be rolled out in 262 districts, fall under the responsibility of the Ministry of Local Government and district assemblies, with financing expected through the District Assemblies Common Fund.
“Although they use a 24-hour logo, we have no control over the markets. We are not part of deciding where it goes, and so on and so forth,” Mr Tanoh stated.
He said the Secretariat had consequently been sued several times over issues relating to the market projects, despite having no direct responsibility for them.
“We’ve been sued four or five times for something that we have no responsibility for,” he said, adding that the Secretariat’s lawyers were seeking its removal from the cases.
“Our lawyer is moving a motion in November to get us to be removed from the defendant’s list because we have no jurisdiction. We have no status in the matter,” he added.
While distancing the Secretariat from the management of the markets, Mr Tanoh acknowledged that the facilities could support the government’s broader objective of improving productivity and reducing inefficiencies in the agricultural supply chain.
He said modern market infrastructure, particularly storage and cooling facilities, could help reduce post-harvest losses affecting farmers and businesses.
“If you have cooling facilities, then your vegetables, your perishables, and so on, have somewhere to be stored so that we don’t lose or add to the 30% to 40% post-harvest losses that we have within the supply chain,” he said.
The clarification comes as the government continues efforts to expand the 24-hour economy policy, which seeks to promote round-the-clock production, services and job creation across strategic sectors.
