Deputy Director of Elections for the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mahdi Gibrill, has clarified that the party never promised to implement a 24-hour economy within the first six months of assuming power.
Speaking on ABC In The Morning, He said “You cannot run a 24-hour economy unless you pass a bill to support it,” explaining why the initiative was not rolled out immediately after the NDC took office.
He mentioned that under the current labour laws, any work beyond the normal eight hours is considered overtime. “That is why here in Ghana, if you are working beyond your normal eight hours, they say ‘overtime,’ but when you implement this 24-hour economy and the bill is passed, nobody will talk about this overtime issue,” he said.
Gibrill also addressed expectations about the timing of implementing a 24-hour economy. “We didn’t tell you we will do it in six months when we come to power,” he said, emphasizing the need for careful planning before introducing such a major reform.
He criticized the handling of the country’s foreign reserves under the previous administration, warning that a rushed implementation could have deterred investors. “If we had done a 24-hour economy in the first six months, with the way Nana Addo and Bawumia took our dollars, if we had not managed it, which businessman would want to invest in it?” he questioned.
The Deputy Director of Elections’ comments underline the NDC’s cautious approach to economic reforms, stressing that legislative backing and prudent management are essential before rolling out ambitious initiatives like a 24-hour economy.
