Professor Isaac Boadi, Executive Director of the Institute of Economic Research and Public Policy (IERPP), has challenged the government to account for the funds spent, projects implemented and jobs created under its $4 billion 24-Hour Economy programme before proceeding with the proposed $10 billion New Economy initiative.
Speaking at a press conference in Adabraka, Accra, on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, Prof. Boadi questioned the government’s ability to demonstrate tangible results from the original programme, which was launched to boost production, expand exports, attract investment and create jobs.
He recalled that the 24-Hour Economy and Accelerated Export Development Programme, popularly known as 24H+, was launched on July 2, 2025, with a target of creating at least 1.7 million jobs over four years.
However, Prof. Boadi cited a report indicating that the programme’s Secretariat could not provide a total figure for jobs created so far.
He also questioned claims by the Secretariat in July 2026 that project agreements worth approximately $5.5 billion had been signed, with four projects expected to generate more than 160,000 direct jobs.
According to him, the government must clarify how much funding has been secured and disbursed, how many projects have reached implementation and how many jobs have actually materialised.
Prof. Boadi further raised concerns over what he described as a discrepancy in the 2026 Budget documents. He said the detailed expenditure table allocated GH¢90 million to the programme, while the Budget Speech cited GH¢110 million.
He called for an explanation and disclosure of the actual amounts released and spent.
The IERPP executive director’s concerns follow President John Dramani Mahama’s announcement of a proposed $10 billion New Economy programme, expected to run over four years and cover seven priority sectors, including agriculture and agro-processing.
Prof. Boadi questioned why the government was proposing a significantly larger initiative without first publishing a comprehensive account of the 24-Hour Economy programme.
He urged the administration to disclose the new programme’s financing arrangements, sectoral allocations, implementation timetable and accountability mechanisms before its full rollout.
Among his five key demands were a comprehensive financing report on the 24-Hour Economy, independently verifiable employment figures, reconciliation of the budget figures, publication of the New Economy programme’s implementation framework and the establishment of a public dashboard backed by periodic independent audits.
He said such measures would enable Ghanaians to track public spending and assess whether the programmes were delivering sustainable jobs and tangible economic benefits.
“The era of announcing numbers must end. The era of accounting for results must begin,” Prof. Boadi said.
