Minister for Youth Development and Empowerment, George Opare-Addo, has revealed that the government has decided to take time to prepare for the implementation of the 24-hour economy policy, citing challenges with the Free SHS programme as an example of the need for proper planning.
He made these remarks to Univers News on the sidelines of the launch of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) Youth Drive, a collaborative initiative involving Japan and African countries, held on 3rd August 2026 at the Mensvic Grand Hotel.
The minister cited the National Health Insurance Scheme and the Free Senior High School policy as examples of initiatives introduced by the NPP government which, he said, lacked adequate preparation and were subsequently restructured under the administrations of the late former President Prof. John Atta Mills and current President John Dramani Mahama.
“And then we saw the Free SHS. There was no sustainable source of funding. Ever since President Mahama took over, and then directed that GETFund should be used to fund Free SHS, have we had the issues of food shortages? No. That is planning. That is what good governments do. You just don’t react to problems because people are worried. You take your time. You strategise. You put in place a legal framework that is required. And that is what we have done with the 24-hour policy.”
He assured that the 24-hour economy policy is on course, stressing that a change in mindset is necessary for its successful implementation.
“And we cannot implement such a key-level policy overnight. Traditionally, we’ve always worked from 8 [am] to 5 [pm]. Even the mindset change that we need to do, the orientation that we need to do, for people to adapt before they accept it that now they can do three shifts,” he said.
He also indicated that Ghanaians should expect further details on the policy in the next budget cycle.
“So the framework has been put in place. The law has been passed. People are in there working. So, just give us a little time. I want to believe that by the next budget cycle, when the Minister of Finance is reading the budget, we’ll be hearing about initiatives for people, organisations, who decide to enrol on that programme.”
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Story by Anita Azawodie | univers.ug.edu.gh
Edited by Gabriel Tecco Mensah
