TEMA, Ghana, 20th June: The Secretary-General of the Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL), Abraham Koomson, has urged Ghanaians to give the government more time to effectively implement its flagship 24-Hour Economy Policy.
According to him, it is unfair for critics to suggest that the government has done nothing regarding the policy, considering the economy that was handled over to current administration who has been in office for only a little over a year.
Speaking on Ahotor FM’s Yepe Ahunu programme on Saturday, June 20, Mr. Koomson said the successful implementation of a comprehensive 24-hour economy requires careful planning, adequate infrastructure, and the right economic conditions.
Drawing from his experience in the industrial sector, he noted that the country’s economic challenges inherited from the previous administration make it unrealistic to expect the policy to be fully operational within such a short period.
“I have worked in industry before and understand how a 24-hour economy functions. Looking at the state of the economy and the challenges inherited from the previous government, it could take more than four years to fully establish a sustainable and effective 24-hour economy,” he stated.
Mr. Koomson commended President John Dramani Mahama for establishing a dedicated Secretariat for the 24-Hour Economy Policy, describing it as a crucial step toward addressing the challenges that previously hindered round-the-clock industrial operations and contributed to the relocation of several factories from Ghana.
He explained that a well-structured 24-hour economy has the potential to transform the country’s manufacturing sector by maximizing the use of existing infrastructure and increasing productivity without the immediate need for additional capital investments.
According to him, factories operating under a three-shift system can significantly boost production levels, reduce operational costs per unit, improve competitiveness, and create thousands of decent-paying jobs for Ghanaians.
“A properly functioning 24-hour economy is a game-changer for manufacturing. It allows factories to increase output, improve efficiency, lower production costs, and compete effectively on the global market while creating sustainable employment opportunities,” he said.
Mr. Koomson further noted that continuous production enables industrial machinery to operate at peak efficiency rather than remaining idle for long periods. He added that such a system would support Ghana’s transition from a raw material-exporting economy to one focused on value addition and industrialization.
He stressed that factories running 24 hours a day can potentially produce up to three times more than those operating only during regular daytime hours, making better use of expensive industrial equipment and boosting overall economic growth.
While acknowledging that the 24-Hour Economy Policy is intended to benefit all sectors of the economy, Mr. Koomson maintained that the manufacturing sector remains at the heart of its success.
He therefore called on Ghanaians to exercise patience and allow the government the necessary time to make the required adjustments for the policy’s successful rollout.
“The government cannot be expected to fully implement such a transformative policy within just one year. The foundations are being laid, and with time, Ghanaians will begin to see the full benefits of the 24-Hour Economy Policy,” he added.
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Story by: Emmanuel Romeo Tetteh(#RomeoWrites✍️)/Ahotoronline.com | Ghana 🇬🇭
