Minority Leader in Parliament, Osahene Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, has criticised the government’s “24-Hour Economy” initiative, describing it as a slogan rather than a concrete policy. He expressed concern over what he called a growing disconnect between government rhetoric and the lived realities of ordinary Ghanaians.
He made the comments while delivering his keynote address at the Young Commons Forum (YCF), held over the weekend at the School of Graduate Studies Conference Hall, University of Cape Coast (UCC).
The YCF UCC Summit was held under the theme, “The Dankwa–Busia–Dombo Centre-Right Ideology and Its Impact on Ghana’s Socio-economic Development: A Focus on the Kufuor and Akufo-Addo Governments.”
Afenyo-Markin highlighted several areas where the government, in his view, has failed to meet citizens’ expectations.
He noted that the proposed women’s bank, aimed at empowering women entrepreneurs, has yet to materialise. Similarly, while the government claims inflation has eased, many Ghanaians are struggling with the rising cost of living.
“Electricity prices have shot up by almost 30 percent. They came to repeal the E-levy but ended up introducing the so-called dumsor levy that charges GH¢1 per litre of petrol. Above all, today, the suffering cocoa farmer is at the receiving end,” he said.
The Minority Leader emphasised that the ordinary Ghanaian continues to face significant economic challenges, from surging utility costs to persistent financial pressures in rural farming communities. He argued that political slogans and grandiose announcements have done little to address these pressing concerns.
“It is time for our government to move away from slogans and political rhetoric and focus on the core duties of governance: development, job creation, and the rule of law,” Afenyo-Markin asserted.
He called on the government to prioritise tangible interventions that improve livelihoods, strengthen economic opportunities, and protect vulnerable populations, particularly farmers who remain critical to Ghana’s economic backbone.
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