The Ranking Member on Parliament’s Trade and Industry Committee, Michael Okyere Baafi, has called on the government to apologise to Ghanaians for changing the formula of the 24-Hour Economy Policy from “1-3-3” to “4-1-9” without broader consultation.
According to him, the policy, which was heavily promoted by John Dramani Mahama and his team ahead of the elections, appears to have been altered significantly after the polls.
Speaking during a media interview in Koforidua on Saturday, March 14, Mr. Okyere Baafi said the government must explain the changes and apologise to the public.
“The policy was advertised by President Mahama and his team before the elections. Today, I put it to the head of the 24-Hour Economy Secretariat… They have to go back to the country and apologise to Ghanaians,” he stated.
Mr. Okyere Baafi, who is also the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament for New Juaben South and a former Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, questioned the shift in the policy’s structure.
He argued that the initial concept appeared to focus on job creation for individuals, but the revised approach now seems to emphasise a private sector-led initiative supported by government incentives.
“What sense do you get about the policy? It’s a private sector-led initiative with incentives that may include interest subsidies,” he said.
Mr. Okyere Baafi further stressed the need for stronger investment promotion to drive employment.
“Government needs to do more in the area of investment promotion. They want to create jobs, but how?” he asked.
He added that the government’s handling of the 24-Hour Economy Policy has left many Ghanaians confused about its actual implementation framework.
“We are now waiting for the incentive policy. The point I’m trying to make is that we now understand a different 24-Hour Economy,” he noted.
Source: adomonline.com
