The Member of Parliament for Damongo, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has taken a swipe at the Mahama administration over what he describes as the sluggish and ineffective implementation of its flagship 24-hour economy policy, almost a year after assuming office.
His comments were made during parliamentary deliberations on the proposed 24-Hour Economy Authority Bill on Thursday, 5 February.
Contributing to the debate, Jinapor argued that the much-publicised three-shift, eight-hour work system has failed to take root across state institutions and has not translated into the jobs promised to unemployed youth.
According to him, the only public institution currently operating any form of shift system is the Office of the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, an arrangement he says does not amount to a full 24-hour operation.
“Eleven months into the NDC administration, their flagship programme of a 24-hour economy, with the three-shift system for unemployed Ghanaian youth, the only place working some form of shifts today is the Office of the Speaker of Parliament—and even that is not a full 24-hour operation,” he stated.
Jinapor also opposed the proposal to establish a new authority to supervise the policy, insisting that existing institutions are capable of supporting job creation without adding another layer of bureaucracy.
He cited the Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA) as an institution whose mandate already aligns with export-led growth under a 24-hour economy framework.
“You do not need another authority to promote exports and thereby create a 24-hour economy. We already have the Ghana Export Promotion Authority, whose sole mandate is to promote exports,” he argued.
The Damongo MP further criticised the bill, describing it as a political move that would largely benefit appointees rather than address widespread youth unemployment.
“This is another gimmick. It is meant to buy time and give false hope to the unemployed youth. This authority will only create jobs for a few—another CEO, deputy CEOs, and managers—while the suffering youth from Bolgatanga to Keta, Bosome Freho and across the length and breadth of the country remain without jobs,” he said.
He concluded by warning that public frustration is growing, noting that Ghanaians are increasingly demanding action rather than repeated promises.
“Ghanaians are tired of hope; they want action. Nearly a year on, instead of implementing the 24-hour economy, the government is asking us to create another layer of bureaucracy,” he added.
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