24-hour economy policy will take years to yield results

Abraham Koomson is the Executive Secretary of the Ghana Federation of Labour

The Secretary-General of the Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL), Abraham Koomson, has cautioned that Ghana’s proposed 24-hour economy policy should not be expected to deliver significant results within its first year of implementation.

Speaking on Yepe Ahunu on Ahotor FM on Saturday, January 24, 2026, he described the initiative as a long-term structural transformation rather than a quick economic fix.

Koomson estimated that it could take the entire tenure of President John Dramani Mahama for the policy to be fully integrated into the national economic framework.

According to him, critical areas such as infrastructure, regulation, security, and energy supply must first be aligned before the policy can deliver meaningful outcomes.

“A functional 24-hour economy requires reliable and uninterrupted power supply, enhanced security in some areas, and an efficient public transport system, particularly for night operations,” he explained.

He added that challenges such as power deficits cannot be resolved overnight.

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Koomson further said the success of the policy hinges on sectors like manufacturing, agro-processing, hospitality, retail, and parts of the informal economy operating around the clock.

He argued that years of economic mismanagement had weakened local industries, making it necessary for the new administration to rebuild systems before the policy can thrive.

While acknowledging that some small-scale gains may be recorded within the first year, he maintained that widespread and transformative growth would take longer.

He cited the collapse of Ghana’s once-thriving textile industry as an example of the challenges facing local manufacturers.

“Only the textile sector, which employed about 25,000 workers in the 1970s, now has less than 1,500 in employment. The 24-hour economy is meant to address these challenges and attract investors to reactivate businesses,” he said.

Koomson urged the public to support the government’s rollout of the policy, commending the administration’s commitment to creating a conducive environment for manufacturing and investment.

SA