The Ranking Member on the Trade and Industry Committee of Parliament, Mr Michael Okyere Baafi, has called on the government to apologise to Ghanaians for changing the formula of the 24-hour Economy Policy from “1-3-3” to “4-1-9” without consultation.
“The policy was advertised by President Mahama and his team before the elections. Today, I put it to the head of the 24-Hour Economy secretariat… They have to go back to the country and apologise to the Ghanaian,” he maintained.
Mr Okyere Baafi questioned the shift from a policy focused on creating one job per person to an alleged private sector-led initiative, saying, “What sense do you get about the policy? It’s a private sector-led initiative… with incentives that may include interest subsidies.”
The former Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, who is also the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP) for New Juaben South, made the remarks in a media interview in Koforidua, on Saturday.
He emphasised the need for investment promotion and job creation, saying, “Government needs to do more in the area of investment promotion… They want to create jobs, but how?” he asked.
He added that the government’s approach to the 24-Hour Economy policy had allegedly left many Ghanaians confused and disappointed.
“We are now waiting for the incentive policy… The point I’m trying to make is that we now understand a different 24-Hour Economy,” he stated.
Credit-GNA
