Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the flag bearer of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), has mocked his counterpart from the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama, stating that Mahama cannot explain his own 24-hour economy policy to Ghanaians.
John Mahama, a former President of Ghana, proposes a 24-hour economy initiative aimed at enabling businesses to operate in three shifts per day.
According to Mahama, the objective behind this initiative is to create new employment opportunities, particularly for young people, to address unemployment, and to enhance living standards in Ghana.
He envisions a collaborative effort between the government and the private sector to achieve this goal.
Mahama’s plan includes enacting new laws to support businesses operating a 24/7 system, encompassing labor laws and tax incentives.
He mentions that there will be favorable tax policies, stimulus packages, and financial assistance available for specific industries, such as agro-processing and manufacturing.
Additionally, he emphasizes that the government will prioritize purchasing local products and services and will implement measures to ensure the smooth operation of the 24-hour economy.
However, speaking at a Youth Connect program in Bunkpurugu in the North East Region, Dr. Bawumia criticized the 24-hour economy policy, labeling it as empty.
He stated, “He claims to have a 24-hour economy that he cannot explain; it is as empty as an empty barrel. He cannot explain it, nor can any of his associates. They claim we will be exporting lions and elephants, but when we meet face-to-face, we can debate, and the country will see where our policies stand.”
Dr. Bawumia underscored the importance of publicly debating policies, saying, “That is the direction we should take; we should afford the country an opportunity to listen to us. But if he opts not to debate, I will present my policies to the people of Ghana, and they will make the decision.”