Accra: Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has expressed his frustration with the increasing politicisation of issues in Ghana, stating, "I'm fed up with politics in this country." He emphasized the importance of supporting policies that promote socio-economic development rather than attaching a political twist to every issue.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Bagbin made these remarks while addressing a delegation from the Office of the President at the Parliament House in Accra. The delegation had presented the 24-Hour Economy Policy document during a courtesy call. Mr. Bagbin stressed the need for national collaboration, harmonisation, and consensus-building on critical national matters to benefit all citizens, regardless of political, religious, or ethnic backgrounds.
Mr. Bagbin proposed that the 24-Hour Economy Policy, set to launch on July 2, should be presented to Parliament for a comprehensive debate. This approach, he argued, would ensure the policy's acceptance across political lines, facilitating its implementation for the common good of the people. He cited past policies like the Vision 2020 Policy and the Free Senior High School Policy as examples of initiatives that were debated in Parliament to gain widespread support.
Meanwhile, Mr. Augustus Obuadum Tanoh, Presidential Advisor for the 24-Hour Economy Secretariat, outlined the policy's three main anchors: Production Transformation, Supply Chain and Market Efficiency, and Human Capital Development. These thematic areas are supported by eight sub-programmes, including Grow 24, Make 24, and Connect 24, aimed at transforming and stimulating the private sector for job creation and prosperity.
The 24-Hour Economy Policy, a key campaign message of the National Democratic Congress, aims to create jobs and stimulate economic growth. President John Dramani Mahama is expected to officially launch the programme on July 2, 2025. Mr. Tanoh highlighted that the policy would transform production with agriculture as its main anchor to ensure food sufficiency and enhance the country's value chain for greater productivity and export.
Specific components like 'Make 24' aim to boost manufacturing, while 'Aspire 24' seeks to change the mindset of Ghanaian workers and reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks. 'Show Ghana' is designed to promote the country's cultural identity and tourism, and 'Go Ghana' aims to mobilize citizens towards building a prosperous nation. The 'Made-in-Ghana' component focuses on encouraging local manufacturing and consumption of domestically produced goods.
