Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has issued a strong call for national unity, lamenting the deep-rooted politicisation of public discourse in Ghana and urging stakeholders to rise above partisanship for the country’s development.
“I’m fed up with politics in this country,” Mr. Bagbin declared, expressing frustration over how every policy and issue is often reduced to political rivalry, rather than being evaluated on its merit.
The Speaker made the remarks during a courtesy visit by a delegation from the Office of the President to present the newly developed 24-Hour Economy Policy document to Parliament.
While acknowledging the potential of the programme to transform Ghana’s economy, Mr. Bagbin emphasised that for the policy to achieve national impact, it must be depoliticised and adopted as a national programme, not a partisan agenda.
“Let’s not twist every initiative for political gain,” the Speaker said. “Policies like this should be embraced across the aisle. We need consensus-building, not division.”
He proposed that following its official launch on July 2, 2025, the policy be formally laid before Parliament for debate. According to Mr. Bagbin, such a move would help legitimise the programme, allow for thorough input from all political divides, and secure broader national support—similar to the Vision 2020 and Free SHS policies which received plenary debate.
Mr. Augustus Obuadum Tanoh, Presidential Advisor for the 24-Hour Economy Secretariat, outlined the programme’s overarching vision: to stimulate the private sector, boost job creation, and ensure economic prosperity for all Ghanaians.
He explained that the policy is anchored on three core pillars:
- Production Transformation
- Supply Chain and Market Efficiency
- Human Capital Development
These are further supported by eight sub-initiatives, including:
- Grow 24 – focused on agriculture and food sufficiency
- Make 24 – aimed at reviving Ghana’s manufacturing sector
- Show Ghana – designed to promote tourism and cultural identity
- Go Ghana – to mobilise patriotic citizen action for nation-building
- Aspire 24 – a reorientation programme to increase productivity by changing work attitudes
- Connect 24, Digital Technology, and Made-in-Ghana – all targeted at strengthening domestic value chains, digital transformation, and patronage of local goods
The policy, which formed a cornerstone of President John Mahama and the National Democratic Congress’ 2024 campaign platform, is being presented as a bold solution to Ghana’s unemployment and productivity challenges.
As Parliament prepares to receive the policy for deliberation, Mr. Bagbin reiterated that the real test lies not in political rhetoric but in effective bipartisan execution.
“Let’s make this Ghana’s policy—not a party’s manifesto,” he concluded. “The future of our youth and the strength of our economy depend on it.”
The 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme is expected to become a transformative national agenda with the potential to reshape work culture, boost exports, and accelerate economic development.
