Founder and Leader of the All People’s Congress (APC), Hassan Ayariga, has questioned the government’s decision to refer to its flagship market initiative as “District Model Markets”, warning that the change in terminology could create uncertainty about the future of the 24-hour Economy policy.
In a statement issued on Monday, October 5, Mr Ayariga said the original 24-hour Markets concept had become an important part of the government’s broader 24-hour Economy agenda and provided a clear identity for the initiative.
He said the concept had created expectations that selected markets and commercial centres would operate beyond traditional business hours, potentially providing extended opportunities for traders, businesses, workers and consumers.
Mr Ayariga therefore wants the government to explain whether the new terminology represents merely a rebranding of the initiative or signals a substantive change in policy.
“If the intention of government is to broaden the initiative by developing modern model markets across the districts, then that objective should be clearly communicated,” he said.
According to him, dropping the “24 Hour” identity without an adequate explanation could create the impression that the original concept has been abandoned or is no longer a key component of the government’s 24-hour Economy programme.
He argued that the lack of clarity could also fuel criticism from political opponents who may interpret the change as an indication that the original policy has not delivered as expected.
Call for policy clarity
Mr Ayariga suggested that the government could retain the original policy identity while incorporating the broader district-market objective by adopting the name “24 Hour District Model Markets.”
He said such an approach would preserve the link between the market initiative and the 24-hour Economy policy while reflecting the government’s intention to develop modern markets across the districts.
The APC leader stressed that his concerns were about policy consistency and public accountability rather than political point-scoring.
“We therefore respectfully ask: Is the 24 Hour Market concept still an integral part of the government’s 24 Hour Economy policy, or has there been a change in policy direction?” he asked.
“The Ghanaian people deserve clarity.”
The government has announced plans to review and remodel the initiative, with the revised District Model Markets expected to reflect changes in the programme’s scope.
Mr Ayariga is now calling on the government to clearly communicate whether the change in terminology is intended as a rebranding of the original initiative or reflects a broader shift in the policy direction of the 24-hour Economy programme.
