Dr Sarkodie questions government's direction on 24-Hour Economy implementation

Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana and Executive Director of the Centre for Policy Scrutiny, Dr Adu Owusu Sarkodie, has expressed concern over the government's implementation of its flagship 24-hour economy programme.

He has stated that the execution does not reflect the vision outlined in the official policy document.

Speaking on Channel One TV on Saturday, July 25, 2026, Dr Sarkodie argued that there is a wide gap between what the government has promised, what is contained in the policy document and what is currently happening on the ground.

According to him, the 287-page 24-hour economy policy offers a comprehensive diagnosis of Ghana's economic challenges and presents practical ideas for transforming the economy.

"When you read the 24-hour economy document, about 287 pages, we have done a thorough review of the document. What you see in that document are brilliant ideas. In fact, I have not read any government document that is so well-researched," he said.

Despite praising the document, Dr Sarkodie maintained that its recommendations are not being followed during implementation.

"But where is the implementation? And so when you promise 1-3-3, and when you go to the document, 1-3-3 appears only once on page 18, only once out of 287 pages," he stated.

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He also questioned the government's decision to construct 24-hour economy markets before strengthening local production, arguing that economic transformation should begin with increasing the country's productive capacity.

"The narration has always been economic transformation, economic transformation, and that the economic transformation is the process and the 1-3-3 shift is a destination. And therefore, we should finish the process before the destination," he explained.

He therefore called on the government to ensure that the implementation of the policy remains faithful to the objectives and recommendations contained in the document.

"What is being promised, what is contained in the document, and what is being done are completely different things. And I don’t think that it is good for us. I think the government should do well," he said.

Dr Sarkodie warned that without first expanding domestic production, the newly constructed markets could end up depending largely on imported goods.

"But why are you building markets? Why are you building a 24-hour economy market? Because when you build markets, and you have not transformed and produced, what you are going to sell there are still imported commodities," he added.

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