24-Hour Economy goes beyond '1-in-3' work arrangement - Dr Pelpuo

The Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr Abdul-Rashid Hassan Pelpuo, has clarified that the government’s 24-hour economy policy is not a plan to make every worker work around the clock.

Speaking in an interview on Channel One TV on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, amid criticism from the opposition, Dr Pelpuo said the policy is primarily designed to encourage the private sector to increase production, create more jobs and operate for longer hours where necessary.

“It is part of the definition to talk about 1-in-3, but it’s bigger than that. The bigger portion of it is to energise the private sector to work 24 hours,” he said.

“It’s not that simplistic that we want to see people working every day, so if a minister comes, another minister should come; that is a very simplistic way of looking at it. It’s bigger than that,” he added.

Dr Pelpuo urged critics to study the policy carefully instead of reducing it to the idea of three people sharing one job.

He said the policy is aimed at changing how businesses operate and creating an environment where production can continue beyond normal working hours.

He explained that the government’s role would include providing key support, such as reliable power supply and other incentives, to businesses that need to operate for extended hours.

According to him, the focus is to help such businesses expand rather than force companies to operate throughout the day.

The Minister said several businesses are already operating 24 hours, demonstrating that the concept is not entirely new to Ghana.

Dr Pelpuo added that the policy should therefore be viewed as an economic strategy aimed at boosting production, expanding businesses and creating employment opportunities.

He maintained that the 24-hour economy is much broader than the political arguments surrounding the “1-in-3” work arrangement.

ANAS/MA