Dr. Stephen Amoah, Isaac Adongo
Parliament was thrown into heated debate as Majority and Minority Members of Parliament (MPs) sharply disagreed over the proposed 24-Hour Economy Authority Bill, with concerns raised about duplication of institutions, fiscal prudence and the practical impact of the policy on job creation and economic transformation.
The bill, which seeks to establish a 24-Hour Economy Authority to coordinate the implementation of the government’s flagship 24-hour economy agenda, drew strong criticism from the Minority side, led by the Deputy Ranking Member on the Finance Committee and New Patriotic Party (NPP) MP for Nhyiaeso, Dr. Stephen Amoah.
Dr. Amoah questioned the conceptual clarity and strategic grounding of the policy, arguing that the proposed authority lacks a solid manufacturing and industrial framework to justify its creation.
He contended that many aspects of a 24-hour economy, including public services, security and healthcare, are already in operation in the country, and that the bill fails to demonstrate how it would fundamentally transform production or create sustainable employment.
He described the bill as a “strategic drift” and warned that it risks becoming another layer of bureaucracy that duplicates the work of existing ministries, departments and agencies.
Dr. Amoah further cautioned that the nation’s current economic realities, which are characterised by constrained fiscal space, rising public debt and weak expenditure controls, make the creation of a new authority both impractical and wasteful.
Supporting this position, NPP MP for Effia, Isaac Yaw Boamah-Nyarko, also raised concerns about the necessity of establishing an authority to oversee a single policy initiative.
He noted that the three core pillars outlined in the bill, which are production systems, supply chain development and labour development, are already being handled by existing institutions such as the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, and agencies responsible for skills training and youth employment.
Financial Burdens
Mr. Boamah-Nyarko warned that setting up the authority would impose additional financial burdens on taxpayers, including the cost of appointing chief executives, board members and staff, without delivering commensurate benefits.
He further criticised the bill for failing to clearly spell out the promised shift system under the 24-hour economy, which was expected to create multiple jobs from single work positions.
The Minority MPs argued that while the 24-hour economy may be a legitimate policy objective, its implementation should be embedded within existing government structures rather than through the creation of a new authority.
Majority Response
In response, the Chairman of the Finance Committee and National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for Bolgatanga Central, Isaac Adongo, mounted a robust defence of the bill, insisting that the authority is essential to coordinate a cross-sectoral policy that cuts across agriculture, industry and services.
He dismissed claims of duplication, arguing that effective implementation of a 24-hour economy requires a central coordinating body to align the efforts of multiple agencies and create an enabling environment for private sector participation.
Mr. Adongo accused the Minority of failing to adequately study the memorandum accompanying the bill, which he said clearly outlines the objectives, scope and implementation framework of the proposed authority.
He maintained that the authority would focus on coordination rather than execution, ensuring that policies across sectors are harmonised and properly funded.
He further argued that current macroeconomic conditions, including improving investor confidence, stabilising inflation and easing interest rates, create a favourable environment for the private sector to drive the 24-hour economy agenda, with the authority serving as a facilitator rather than a competitor to existing institutions.
Critics’ Misunderstanding
Adding to the Majority’s defence, the Minister for Roads and Highways and MP for Adaklu, Kwame Governs Agbodza, said the bill is being misunderstood by its critics.
He explained that the 24-hour economy is not a stand-alone project but a broad, cross-cutting development programme aimed at modernising production systems, strengthening supply chains and enhancing labour productivity.
Mr. Agbodza cited ongoing infrastructure projects under the government’s “Big Push” initiative, noting that many contractors are already working around the clock, creating jobs and accelerating delivery.
He argued that the proposed authority would provide the coordination needed to sustain such efforts across sectors and over the long term.
He urged MPs to support the bill at the second reading stage and use the consideration stage to refine its provisions, stressing that the authority is intended to serve as a catalyst for economic growth rather than a vehicle for political patronage.
By Ernest Kofi Adu, Parliament House