Member of Parliament for Ofoase Ayirebi, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has accused the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) of abandoning a key promise made to young people under its flagship 24-Hour Economy agenda.
Speaking exclusively to ABC News GH, the Ranking Member on Parliament’s Economy and Development Committee said the much-touted “1-3-3” shift system, which the NDC promoted as a core feature of its proposed 24-hour working cycle, is completely absent from the 24-Hour Economy Authority Bill currently before Parliament.
“What they promised about the 24-hour working cycle is not in the Bill,” Mr Oppong Nkrumah stated. “The shift system which they advertised and many young people believed in — the 1-3-3 — is missing.”
He explained that during parliamentary deliberations, concerns were raised by the Minority over the omission of the shift system and the lack of clarity on how the 24-hour economy would practically operate, particularly within the public sector.
According to him, when the issue was raised, Isaac Adongo, Chairman of Parliament’s Finance Committee, dismissed the concerns, arguing that the policy did not need to be tied to a specific shift structure.
“When we raised it, Isaac Adongo told us that we don’t need to be tied to 1-3-3,” he said.
Hon. Oppong Nkrumah further criticised the Bill for failing to list the state agencies that were promised extended working hours under the 24-hour economy framework.
“The state agencies which they advertised to people they were going to make them work for 24 hours are not in the Bill,” he stressed.
He disclosed that the Minority subsequently drafted an amendment seeking to compel the proposed Authority to ensure that specific public institutions operate on a 24-hour basis. The amendment, he said, was formally moved by Hon. Boamah, MP for Effia Constituency, but was overwhelmingly rejected by the Majority.
“They flat out rejected it. They said they don’t want it, claiming it was too limiting. For us, that is a lousy excuse,” he said.
The Ranking Member argued that rather than delivering on the substance of the 24-hour economy promise, the Bill merely creates a new bureaucratic structure with significant cost implications.
“What they have done is to create an authority — a Chief Executive, Board of Directors, Director of Finance, an internal auditor and others. They are all going to be paid, they will buy cars, they will spend the budget,” he said.
He also accused the government of misleading young people who bought into the promise of expanded employment opportunities through round-the-clock public sector operations.
“That promise they gave to the young people — that they will make the economy work for 24 hours, especially public entities — zilch. It is not in the Bill.”
Hon Kojo Oppong Nkrumah remarks add to the growing debate about the 24-Hour Economy Authority which has been passed by parliament over its scope, cost and ability to deliver on the ambitious promises made during the NDC’s campaign.
