Kojo Oppong Nkrumah Questions 24-Hour Economy Policy: “It Must Be Driven by Effective Demand, Not Just an Authority”
Member of Parliament for Ofoase-Ayirebi and former Minister for Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has described the government’s flagship 24-hour economy policy as achievable in principle but cautioned that its success hinges on genuine consumer demand rather than top-down enforcement or bureaucratic structures.
The 24-Hour Economy Authority Bill, one of the key promises of President John Dramani Mahama’s administration, was passed by Parliament after extensive debate and received presidential assent earlier this month. The legislation established a dedicated authority to coordinate and oversee the nationwide rollout of round-the-clock operations in sectors such as manufacturing, hospitality, retail, logistics, healthcare, and digital services, with the aim of boosting productivity, creating jobs, and extending economic activity beyond conventional working hours.
Speaking in an interview on TV3 on Sunday, February 22, 2026, Mr. Oppong Nkrumah questioned the economic viability of forcing 24-hour operations in the absence of sufficient market demand.
He cited the recent experience of the Ghana Industrial Holding Corporation (GIHOC), which initially announced plans to implement 24-hour shifts but quickly reversed course. “GIHOC announced that they were doing 24-hours, a few moments later, the MD came back to say they are going to cut back on the 24-hour shift, because it did not make economic sense to run 24 hours,” he noted.
Mr. Oppong Nkrumah challenged the policy’s implementation approach, urging a reality check: “Let’s go there to see whether indeed, there will be customers showing up off the 8-hour shift to do all these transactions they talk about.”
While acknowledging that a 24-hour economy is “doable,” he insisted it must be organically driven by strong economic fundamentals—particularly effective demand—rather than imposed through regulation or an authority.
“So, it is doable, but it must be premised on effective demand. When you have created an economy that has demand, you do not need to set up an authority to tell people to go and work 24-hours,” he stated.
He offered a practical analogy: “If you run a cold store, and at 11:50 pm, there are people in front of your shop with cash in their hands, would you close your store?” He contrasted this with cities that naturally operate 24 hours due to consumer behaviour, noting that “none of them set up an authority. You focus on creating the demand.”
The comments reflect ongoing opposition scrutiny of the policy, which the government promotes as a transformative measure to address underemployment, idle industrial capacity, and limited night-time economic activity. Proponents argue it will generate jobs (especially for youth), increase tax revenue, and make Ghana more competitive regionally.
Critics, including Mr. Oppong Nkrumah, maintain that without corresponding growth in purchasing power, disposable income, and consumer spending—particularly at night—forced 24-hour operations risk becoming unsustainable, leading to higher operational costs, worker fatigue, and potential business failures.
The newly established 24-Hour Economy Authority is expected to begin phased implementation, starting with pilot projects in industrial zones, ports, markets, and essential services. Government officials have indicated that incentives (such as tax breaks, subsidized utilities, and shift allowances) will be offered to compliant businesses, alongside labour protections and infrastructure upgrades to support extended hours.
