Member of the National Democratic Congress Communications Team, Abdulai Rahman M-Moadan, has said that the NDC’s 24-hour economy policy should not be compared to the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) programme.
Speaking on ABC In The Morning on Wednesday, February 4, 2026, Mr. M-Moadan said the 24-hour economy is a complex and capital-intensive policy that cannot be rolled out hastily without a well-thought-out framework.
“The 24-hour economy is a heavy project. It cannot happen overnight, and it cannot be implemented in a rush without a proper strategy,” he stated.
He argued that unlike Free SHS, which was rushed to be introduced by the erstwhile government, the 24-hour economy requires extensive planning, stakeholder engagement and sector-by-sector coordination to ensure sustainability and long-term economic benefits.
According to Mr. M-Moadan, attempts to draw parallels between the two policies are misleading and fail to appreciate the scale and structural adjustments required to successfully operationalise a round-the-clock economy.
He further indicated that the NDC has moved beyond the conceptual stage of the policy, stressing that work on the initiative is actively ongoing.
“The policy is in full swing,” he said, adding that the party is focused on developing a comprehensive strategy that will support businesses, create jobs and boost productivity across key sectors of the economy.
The 24-hour economy policy, a flagship proposal of the NDC, is aimed at encouraging continuous economic activity through incentives, infrastructure support and regulatory reforms, with the goal of expanding employment opportunities and increasing national output.
