Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah, MP for Manhyia South and Vice Chairman of the Subsidiary Legislative Committee of Parliament, has raised concerns over the government’s handling of Ghana’s 24-hour economy, describing it as a “misdiagnosis” of the country’s real economic challenges.

Speaking on the JoyNews AM Show on Monday, March 16, Nana Agyei Baffour Awuah argued that sustainable job creation hinges on empowering the private sector rather than expanding public sector employment.

“Take the 24-hour economy, for instance,” Nana Agyei said. “All they have come to do is bring a law to Parliament and set up a secretariat. We were not promised a secretariat. We were promised one job, three shifts. Do you need a secretariat to do that?”

He questioned the government’s assumptions about workforce demand, noting that businesses operate based on real market needs, not government directives.

“A company won’t run extra shifts just because funding is promised; it does so because there is actual demand,” he explained.

“This shows a clear misunderstanding of Ghana’s economic reality.”

On unemployment, Nana Agyei was equally critical. “I sit back and watch the promises that were made. Clearly, the government has misdiagnosed its problems. They are doing more of the same things they criticised because they didn’t have a plan. Indeed, they had no plan to solve the real problems of this country.”

He also flagged the risks of politically motivated recruitment across state institutions.

“Today, in trying to make up for unemployment within their own party, they’ve embarked on massive recruitments.

Go to the Bank of Ghana; they are recruiting. Go to various SOEs; they are recruiting lots of people. But look, this is unsustainable. You’re only broaching the public purse. In the long term, this will increase government payroll and restrict financial space for developmental programs.”

Nana Agyei said the solution lies in fostering private sector growth. “Jobs are created by the private sector. Governments have to create an enabling environment for businesses to grow. Take procurement at the Gold Board, for instance.

If you create a competitive environment, it allows private businesses to grow not just financially but also in capacity. That capacity can then take them to other African markets.”

He warned against cronyism, stressing that limiting opportunities to politically connected individuals undermines real growth. “If you restrict opportunities and limit them to cronies, the private sector is deprived of real growth.

Today’s cronies may lose out when the next government comes in. We are breeding political entrepreneurs, not real businessmen.”

Nana Agyei said, “Government intervention is necessary, but the focus must be on strengthening private companies so they can create jobs. That is the sustainable path for Ghana’s future.”