Former Finance Minister and Karaga lawmaker, Mohammed Amin Adam, has described the government’s flagship 24-hour economy policy as a “scam,” arguing that the initiative lacks the financial backing and structural support needed for implementation.
In a Facebook post on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, the former Finance Minister said the policy remains largely a slogan, accusing government of attempting to force public institutions to operate around the clock without employing additional staff.
“The 24 hour economy remains a slogan. I have observed a pattern where government is forcing public agencies to operate 24Hrs without increasing staff. A public sector approach to this policy is fundamentally flawed,” he stated.
According to him, expectations that the initiative would create jobs through public sector expansion are unrealistic because of the burden it would place on the national budget.
“If anyone was expecting that the government would create jobs through the public sector approach, you must be reviewing your expectations because the government cannot fund it,” he argued.
Mr. Amin Adam further noted that compensation for public sector workers already consumes a significant portion of government expenditure.
“The wage bill is 30% of the Budget (33% in 2025). Doubling the wage bill will bankrupt the country. Even the most reckless government cannot do this,” he stressed.
The former minister maintained that the success of the policy hinges on private sector participation, but accused government of failing to roll out incentives promised to businesses in the 2026 Budget.
“The policy, if it will survive, should be private sector led, yet the government has failed to provide the incentive package promised in the 2026 Budget to the private sector almost half year of the budget implementation,” he wrote.
He also claimed that the 24-Hour Economy Secretariat has been starved of funding despite budgetary allocation.
“The 24H Economy Secretariat is in coma as government has not been releasing funds from the GHS110 million allocated to it this year. The policy is dead on arrival. It is a scam!” he added.
Mr. Amin Adam said instead of pursuing what he described as an unsustainable public sector-led model, government should focus on digitisation initiatives similar to those introduced under the previous Mahamudu Bawumia-led agenda of the New Patriotic Party.
He cited several initiatives undertaken during the previous administration, including the digitisation of passport acquisition, port operations, DVLA services, motor insurance verification systems, and the Ghana.Gov payment platform.
He also highlighted the integration of government databases such as the National Identification system with institutions including SSNIT, NHIS, the Ghana Revenue Authority, banks, and mobile money platforms.
“A Bawumia government will continue with the digitalization of public institutions and services to ensure the public’s ease of access to government services at all times, improve efficiency and productivity and create an enabling environment for the private sector to thrive,” he stated.
