Mahama promises 24-hour economy to reduce unemployment

The NDC flagbearer for the 2024 elections, John Mahama, has promised a 24-hour economy in the public sector to mitigate youth unemployment and ensure maximum productivity.

In an engagement with representatives of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) on Tuesday, November 7, 2023, Mr. Mahama noted this is part of the reforms within the public sector his administration intends to implement should he become president.

According to him, his employment drive will focus on IT and the real sector, as opposed to achieving macroeconomic indicators.

“We intend to implement a 24-hour economy, identify and promote strategic growth areas such as IT with a targeted $3 billion investment, and drive aggressive infrastructure development under our BIG PUSH plan.”

“We will shift attention from the macroeconomy to the micro and focus on growth in the real sector instead of just macroeconomic stability,” the former president said.

In August 2023, Mr. Mahama, in his message to the youth on International Youth Day, stated that a future NDC government will introduce a 24-hour economy coupled with incentives and tax breaks to employers in order for them to employ more personnel.

Many nations throughout the world have long since embraced the 24-hour economy, in which employees do not all return home at roughly the same time after an eight- or twelve-hour workday.

The typical 8-hour workday in a 24-hour economy is broken up into three 8-hour shifts, meaning that employees have varying periods when they arrive at work and depart from it.

Although the 24-hour economy has advantages in boosting revenues, increasing productivity, and reducing unemployment, it also has its drawbacks, including health and safety concerns, disruptive social and family lives, and regulatory complexities.