NDC has failed to create conditions for 24-hour economy – Afenyo-Markin

Minority Leader in Parliament, Osahen Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has accused the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government of failing to introduce incentives to support the implementation of its 24-hour economy policy.

He said the policy required strong private-sector growth, cheaper access to raw materials and affordable energy to enable businesses to operate multiple shifts and create jobs.

Speaking on Accra-based JoyNews’ The Probe on Sunday, August 23, Afenyo-Markin said the government had not introduced any tangible measure comparable to the incentives provided under the previous administration’s One District, One Factory (1D1F) programme.

“Ask yourself, what are the incentives that this government has introduced to aid that policy? Zero,” he said.

The Effutu lawmaker said the previous government’s 1D1F initiative was designed to support industries through incentives for raw materials and equipment, but the current administration cancelled the programme without introducing a superior alternative for the private sector.

He argued that the 24-hour economy could not succeed if businesses are unable to expand production and employ more workers to sustain a three-shift system.

He also criticised the government over the cost of electricity and fuel and increased energy costs had made it difficult for industries to expand and create the jobs required for the policy.

“You can’t talk about one job, three shifts as a mere political statement,” he said, arguing that the government must create the conditions for businesses to grow before expecting them to operate three shifts.

The Minority Leader further said the NDC government not been able to deliver on its pre-election promises to Ghanaians unlike how the previous NPP administration delivered on its Free SHS and 1D1F programmes in its first year.