Mahama’s 24-Hour Economy Must Boost Productivity – David Ofosu-Dorte
David Ofosu-Dorte, Senior Partner at AB & David Africa, has stressed that the success of President John Dramani Mahama’s 24-hour economy policy hinges on its ability to enhance productivity across key sectors of the Ghanaian economy.
Speaking on Citi FM’s Citi Breakfast Show on Monday, February 10, Ofosu-Dorte noted that inefficiencies remain a major challenge in Ghana’s economic structure. He emphasized that for the policy to have tangible benefits, it must be implemented strategically to stimulate demand while ensuring that supply and productivity increase in tandem.
“If you stimulate demand and you match it with a 24-hour economy, then you are increasing supply and you’re increasing productivity. That is what you do in a country that has low productivity,” he explained.
President Mahama has described the initiative as “a deliberate policy to encourage and support businesses and public organizations to operate 24/7 in three shifts of eight hours to boost production, promote productivity, and generate well-paying jobs.” He envisions the policy as a major step toward transforming Ghana into an import substitution and export-led economy.
However, Ofosu-Dorte cautioned that for the policy to succeed, it requires a collective commitment from government appointees and stakeholders.
“If the President fails to pull along all his appointees on the path of his vision, it would be a lonely walk to nowhere,” he remarked.
He further called for a strong central direction and coordinated effort to ensure that the entire nation aligns with the policy’s objectives, emphasizing that the policy’s success will depend on widespread participation and efficient execution.
