Bekwai: Ralph Poku Adusei, the Member of Parliament for Bekwai in the Ashanti Region, has raised strong concerns about the government's proposed 24-Hour Economy Authority Bill, describing the planned secretariat as unnecessary and a potential waste of public resources.
According to Ghana Web, Adusei expressed his views during an interview on Amansie 91.7 FM, emphasizing that the national discourse should focus not on the concept of a 24-hour economy but on the necessity of establishing a new authority to manage it. He argued that the drive towards a 24-hour economy should be led by the existing institutions and sectors within the country rather than a newly created office in Accra.
Adusei highlighted that agencies like the Passport Office and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) already operate around the clock due to increased staffing and improved systems, not because of a special authority. He suggested that the government should prioritize strengthening existing institutions and creating more job opportunities for the youth.
The Bekwai MP also warned that the proposed authority could create role conflicts and confusion due to its unclear mandate. He questioned its legal power to compel private companies and institutions to operate 24 hours, suggesting it might become another bureaucratic entity without clear responsibilities.
Adusei voiced concerns about the governance structure of the authority, which would include a CEO and a five-member board appointed by the President. He questioned whether these appointments would be expertise-based, considering the concept's novelty in Ghana.
He urged Parliament to transcend partisan politics and collectively contribute ideas to ensure the 24-hour economy vision is supported by robust systems, infrastructure, and meaningful job creation. Adusei cautioned that the authority could lead to conflicts of interest and undermine its objectives, particularly pointing to provisions allowing the use of information 'without authorization,' which he believes could encourage abuse and weaken accountability.
Despite these concerns, Parliament passed the 24-Hour Economy Authority Bill on February 6, 2026, following extensive debates. The legislation, introduced in late 2025, aims to establish a national body to coordinate the rollout of Ghana's 24-hour economy policy across public and private sectors.
The bill is a central component of President John Dramani Mahama's economic agenda, launched on July 2, 2025, alongside the Accelerated Export Development Programme. President Mahama described the initiative as a transformative strategy to boost productivity, create jobs, and position Ghana as a value-adding industrial hub.
The strategy includes eight thematic sub-programmes such as GROW24 for agriculture, MAKE24 for manufacturing, and BUILD24 for infrastructure, among others. The government asserts that the authority will facilitate necessary coordination to achieve these goals, while critics like Adusei advocate for stronger safeguards and bipartisan cooperation to ensure accountability and effectiveness.