The Minority in Parliament has asserted that the National Democratic Congress (NDC)'s proposed 24-hour economy is a strategic response to the economic crisis exacerbated by the Akufo-Addo-led New Patriotic Party (NPP) government.

The caucus contends that the current administration's imprudent borrowing practices have ballooned the national debt to over GHC740 billion without delivering tangible benefits.

In a media interview on Monday, July 29, Eric Opoku, Ranking Member on the Food, Agriculture, and Cocoa Affairs Committee, highlighted the transformative potential of the 24-hour economy initiative. He noted that the policy is designed to generate more employment opportunities, expand the tax base, and offer increased prospects for the youth.

The Asunafo South MP criticized the Akufo-Addo administration for its financial mismanagement, asserting that reversing the economic downturn will require significant effort and expertise.

“We have been reckless and irresponsible with our borrowing over the past seven years. From March 6, 1957, to January 7, 2017, Ghana’s total debt was GHC120 billion. In the last seven years alone, we’ve amassed a debt of GHC742 billion, reflecting an unprecedented borrowing spree of GHC622 billion during this period,” he said.

“To address this crisis, we need to work diligently. We’ve traditionally worked for 8 hours a day, but what we’re proposing is to utilize the remaining 18 hours productively. We must leverage every hour to restore our economy,” he emphasized.