2026 Budget: 24-Hour Economy lacks clarity — Afenyo-Markin

The Minority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has expressed discontent with the government for not providing clear information regarding its highly publicised 24-Hour Economy policy in the 2026 Budget Statement.

He stated that, despite previous assurances that this initiative would generate significant employment opportunities for Ghanaians, the budget delivered by the Minister for Finance did not reference it at all.

His comments followed the presentation of the 2026 Budget Statement and Economic Policy by the Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, in Parliament. The finance minister indicated that the government is aiming for total revenue and grants of GH¢268.1 billion for 2026, which represents an 18.3 percent increase from the GH¢226.7 billion anticipated for 2025.

Additionally, he mentioned that the government intends to create up to 800,000 new jobs across various sectors in the coming year. Ato Forson also revealed that the government plans to allocate GH¢110 million in 2026 to implement the 24-Hour Economy Programme as part of its strategy to enhance productivity, exports, and job creation throughout the country.

However, in response to this statement, Mr. Afenyo-Markin challenged the government’s dedication to its own flagship policy.

“When Ghanaians voted for the NDC, they said they were bringing them jobs. They said they would do this through their flagship 24-Hour Economy — one job running three shifts to provide three jobs.

“Go to Ga Mashie and other places; the youth there are asking where the jobs are or the 24-Hour Economy. But the budget didn’t even mention it. Yet you have MPs singing about a policy they cannot even see,” he remarked.