The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has called on Ghana’s business community to go beyond political criticism and actively engage with the government’s 24-hour economy policy document to enrich its content and drive national development.
Speaking during a ceremony to receive the 24-hour economy policy document from Goosie Tanoh, Presidential Advisor on the initiative, Mr. Bagbin encouraged business-minded Ghanaians to scrutinise the policy and propose constructive additions that can transform Ghana’s economic landscape.
“Those who are business-minded will take this and scrutinise it and see the difference that person can add to what government is going to do,” Bagbin said on Friday, June 28, 2025. He stressed that viewing such initiatives solely through a political lens undermines Ghana’s progress.
Learning from the Past
Recalling past bipartisan cooperation, the Speaker noted that when President John Agyekum Kufuor assumed office in 2001, he reached out to the late P. V. Obeng and Parliament, including Bagbin as then-Minority Leader, for guidance on how to structure the new administration. This, Bagbin said, led to foundational reforms for that government and is a model worth emulating.
Parliament’s Role and Workforce Limitations
Mr. Bagbin highlighted the critical role of Parliament in legitimising national policies. He proposed that after the official launch of the 24-hour economy programme, the document should be debated and approved in Parliament to ensure nationwide buy-in and institutional backing.
Touching on operational challenges in Parliament, he noted that Ghana’s legislature remains severely understaffed, with fewer than 1,000 workers compared to 10,000–25,000 staff in other vibrant legislatures around the world. He suggested that the 24-hour economy policy could help unlock employment opportunities and enhance Parliament’s capacity.
A Citizens’ Programme, Not a Partisan One
The Speaker cautioned against reducing the 24-hour economy to partisan, religious, or ethnic lines, stating, “Once we categorise it that way, it means we have not got it. We have to make it a national programme.”
He emphasized that national mindset change is essential for successful implementation and called for collective commitment to the policy’s goals.
Tanoh Highlights Policy Goals Ahead of Launch
Mr. Goosie Tanoh confirmed that the President will launch the 24-hour economy policy tomorrow, presenting it as a citizens’ programme focused on accelerating export-led economic development.
The policy, he explained, rests on three anchors:
- Production transformation (anchored on agriculture)
- Supply chain and market efficiency
- Human capital development
Tanoh underscored the importance of supporting local manufacturers, lamenting how Ghanaian products are often sidelined in public procurement despite minimal price differences. He called for a shift in procurement practices to favour local production, including school uniforms and Parliament service suits.
“We must use the state as a promoter of local manufacturing,” he asserted.
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