The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GNCCI), Mark Badu Aboagye , has called on the government to move beyond simply making campaign promises and focus on the effective implementation of policies.

Speaking on the JoyNews AM Show, Mr Aboagye stressed, “You can’t just announce a 24-hour economy and expect it to work.”

He added that specific conditions must be met on the ground for such a policy to succeed.

He explained that for critical sectors such as manufacturing, certain key conditions need to be in place. “A reliable and affordable supply of electricity is critical for manufacturing businesses,” he pointed out. “Currently, the cost of energy accounts for around 30% of their total production costs. If the government is to provide energy, it must not only be reliable but also affordable for it to make a tangible difference.”

Linking this to the broader concept of a 24-hour economy, Mr Aboagye raised a vital question: “Are we truly prepared for a 24-hour economy? Before we rush into such ambitious plans, we need to ensure that the necessary infrastructure is already in place.”

He also criticised the previous government’s flagship programme, One District, One Factory, as another example of how policy promises often fail during implementation.

“When the programme was launched, entrepreneurs were promised certain incentives to help set up factories. However, many of them did not receive the support they were promised,” he revealed.

This example reinforces his argument that without consistent follow-through, even the best-intentioned initiatives can fail to deliver on their potential.

Mr Aboagye issued a strong call for action: “We need to move beyond political manifestos and focus on how we can actually implement these promises."

" It’s not just about talking; we must ensure the necessary infrastructure and support are in place to make these policies successful.”He concluded.