Discussions on the 24-hour economy proposed by former President Mahama has become topical since he mentioned it during his encounter with the Trades Union Congress (TUC).
The Secretary General of the Union, Dr. Anthony Yaw Baah, described the idea as a possible game-changer, should the next NDC administration succeed in implementing it.
The Chamber for Local Governance (ChaLoG) has also lauded John Dramani Mahama for proposing the 24-hour economy and asked Ghanaians to support it to deepen the nation’s democracy.
The Chamber says it is “convinced beyond reasonable doubt, that the Policy is sound, pragmatic and properly thought through.
“It is against this backdrop, that ChaloG wishes to call on all well-meaning Ghanaians, to fully endorse and embrace the 24-hour Economy Policy, to help expand the frontiers of local governance and further deepen decentralisation in Ghana.”
In a statement issued Wednesday, November 22, 2023, it consented with the Trades Union Congress’s description of the policy as a game-changer that’s needed to foster local governance and development.
Meanwhile, the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has a divergent opinion saying the proponent of the idea does not even understand the policy.
According to the NPP, various sectors of the economy are already operating a 24-hour economy and it is for lack of ideas, per the Vice President’s assertion for instance, that the NDC is going round preaching a three-shift system for an all day productivity.
In a similar vain, the National Communications Director of the NPP, Richard Ahiagbah, Thursday, November 23, 2023, indicated the idea being propagated by the NDC is nothing but a populist policy since the proponent cannot be trusted.
But, Sammy Gyamfi, the National Communications Director of the NDC, in a rebuttal said the policy is for persons with deep comprehension ability to grasp, and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the NPP’s flag bearer, has got no credibility to rubbish an initiative, as novel as the 24-hour economy.
According to the NDC’s mouthpiece, “if there is any politician who has headlined and championed promises that don’t make sense, ridiculous, deceptive and senseless policies, it is Bawumia.
“He is the one who said we don’t have to borrow for roads. He is the one that said that in 18 months of an NPP government no community would have a water or toilet problem.”
Sammy Gyamfi continued that, the Vice President who is also leading the NPP to the 2024 polls “is the one who promised every constituency one million dollars every year, he is the one who promised Zongos US$50million every year. 16 model schools for Zongos.”
He described the Vice President as “a pathological liar, bereft of ideas, bereft of credibility, bereft of integrity” which he says warrants no basis for Dr. Bawumia to “whatsoever question John Mahama’s capacity or credibility” when he assures Ghanaians of implementing a policy to curb unemployment.
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