Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin has criticised the government for failing to provide clarity on its widely promoted 24-Hour Economy policy in the 2026 Budget Statement.

According to him, despite earlier assurances that the initiative would generate extensive employment opportunities, the budget presented by Finance Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson offered no substantive details on the programme.

His comments followed the presentation of the 2026 Budget Statement and Economic Policy, during which Dr. Forson announced that the government is targeting GH¢268.1 billion in total revenue and grants for 2026, an 18.3% increase over the GH¢226.7 billion projected for 2025. The Minister also said government expects to create up to 800,000 new jobs across various sectors next year and has allocated GH¢110 million to implement the 24-Hour Economy Programme.

But reacting to the budget, Afenyo-Markin questioned the government’s seriousness about its own flagship policy.

“When Ghanaians voted for the NDC, they said they were bringing them jobs. They said they would do this through their flagship 24-Hour Economy — one job running three shifts to provide three jobs."

“Go to Ga Mashie and other places; the youth there are asking where the jobs are or the 24-Hour Economy. But the budget didn’t even mention it. Yet you have MPs singing about a policy they cannot even see,” he said.

The Minority Leader argued that the absence of detailed implementation plans raises doubts about the government’s ability to deliver on its employment promises.