The Minority in Parliament has accused the government of repackaging its 24-Hour Economy programme under a new name rather than presenting a fundamentally different economic transformation agenda.
The Ranking Member of Parliament’s Finance Committee, Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, said a comparison of the 24-Hour Economy policy document released in July 2025 with the New Economy programme outlined in the 2027 Budget showed substantial similarities between the two initiatives.
He argued that six of the eight pillars of the New Economy corresponded with existing components of the 24-Hour Economy programme.
These include financing, commercial agriculture, textiles, pharmaceuticals, tourism and technology, which he said mirror the Fund24, Grow24, Make24, Show24 and Aspire24 sub-programmes.
According to him, the energy component was already identified as an enabler under the 24-Hour Economy, while the proposed critical minerals processing enclave also reflects the earlier programme’s emphasis on round-the-clock industrial activity.
Dr Amin Adam further questioned why the government had not provided an account of the nine strategic projects identified in the original 24-Hour Economy booklet, including the Volta Economic Corridor, Legon Pharmaceutical Innovation Park, Kumasi Machinery and Technology Park and Akosombo–Juapong Garments and Textiles Park.
He said several of those projects appeared to have returned under the New Economy with revised descriptions and implementation timelines, without a clear explanation of their progress.
Speaking at Parliament on Friday, November 13, in response to the 2027 Budget presented by Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, Dr Amin Adam said the government had failed to account for the jobs and projects promised under the earlier programme before introducing another initiative.
“A failed programme does not become a new one by changing its name,” he said, describing the New Economy as the “New 24-Hour Economy”.
He also questioned the continued allocation of GH¢165 million to the 24-Hour Economy Secretariat, asking: “To do what?”