The Member of Parliament for Damongo, Samuel Abu Jinapor, has launched a sharp critique of the Mahama administration over what he describes as the slow and ineffective implementation of its flagship 24-hour economy policy, nearly a year after the government assumed office.
Contributing to debates on the 24-Hour Economy Authority Bill in Parliament on Thursday, February 5, the former Lands and Natural Resources Minister argued that the much-touted three-shift, eight-hour working system has failed to take root across state institutions and has not delivered the promised employment opportunities for Ghana’s unemployed youth.
According to the MP, despite repeated assurances by the government, there is little evidence that the 24-hour economy policy is being implemented in practice.
“Eleven months into the NDC administration, their flagship programme of 24-hour economy, the ‘1-3-3’ formula, three shifts, eight hours, for the unemployed Ghanaian youth, has not materialised,” he stated.
In a sarcastic but pointed remark, the Damongo MP suggested that the Office of the Speaker of Parliament appears to be the only institution operating anything close to the promised model.
“The only job that is 24-hour today, that has three people doing their job, is the office of the Speaker of Parliament,” Hon Jinapor said. “It’s the only job that is ‘1-3-3’.”
He went on to explain that the Speaker, together with the First and Second Deputy Speakers, effectively rotate duties, a situation he argued loosely mirrors the government’s proposed shift system.
“The job of Speaker of Parliament is where you have one person doing one shift, the First Deputy Speaker doing the second shift, and the Second Deputy Speaker doing the third shift,” he added. “That is the only job in Ghana that is ‘1-3-3’.”
However, Hon Jinapor was quick to note that even this arrangement does not amount to a true 24-hour, eight-hour shift system as envisioned under the policy.
“That is not 24 hours, and that is not eight-hour shifts,” he stressed.
Describing the policy as deceptive, the MP accused the government of using the initiative to raise false expectations among the youth.
“This is another gimmick. This is another deception. This is just to buy time and give false hope to the unemployed youth,” he said.
He concluded by expressing frustration over what he called excessive talk with little action, saying, “You promised employment, you promised a 24-hour economy, you promised ‘1-3-3’. Eleven months down the road, you have failed to deliver. Ghanaians are tired of talking.”
