The Upper East Regional Minister, Stephen Yakubu, has criticized former President John Dramani Mahama's suggestion of a 24-hour economy, casting doubt on its appropriateness for agricultural communities.

Speaking at an event in the Upper East Region, as captured in a video by GhanaWeb, Mr. Yakubu expressed concerns about the proposed policy, highlighting potential challenges to the marital stability of the local population whose primary livelihood revolves around farming.

“The vice president is saying that he understands the region. He says that this 24-hour economy, my brothers, when we work in the farms and we are tired in the night we have to sleep with our wives.

“We have to be with our wives. In the night you want us to go and be farming and then people will come and take our wives away?” the minister questioned amidst shouts of no from his audience.

Stephen Yakubu's remarks follow Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia's critique of Mr. Mahama's advocacy for a 24-hour economy. Mr. Mahama, the National Democratic Congress' flagbearer, recently suggested the implementation of a 24-hour economy as a means to foster economic growth and generate employment opportunities, particularly for the youth.

Despite Mr. Mahama's endorsement of the proposal, Dr. Bawumia, his main rival in the upcoming 2024 presidential election and the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party, has contended that the policy lacks innovative thinking.

“This is one idea that John Mahama thinks that he has brought, it is a bad idea, it is an idea that hasn’t been thought through so I want you to compare me to John Mahama, who has the ideas to transform this economy.

“The track record of John Mahama doesn’t show innovative thinking, it doesn’t show ideas, the track record of Dr Bawumia is idea after idea. I have my own priorities and I have my own vision, when I become president I will bring more ideas and you will hear them very soon,” Dr Bawumia stated a recent campaign stop in the Northern Region.