Director of Communication for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Richard Ahiagbah, has strongly criticized Dr. Yaw Baah, the Secretary-General of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), for endorsing former President John Dramani Mahama’s proposal for a 24-hour economy.
Expressing his views during a panel discussion on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana program on November 23, 2023, Ahiagbah conveyed his surprise at Dr. Baah characterizing Mahama’s proposal as transformative. He argued that Mahama’s 24-hour economy concept cannot be considered a game-changer due to numerous conditions and the absence of a clearly outlined plan.
“… to have a night economy is not a plan in itself. It is a plan subject to a condition that exists. And so that is why when he (Mahama) made the statement and Dr Yaw Baah said it was a ‘game changer’, I was flabbergasted.
“I was looking at him, what did he understand by what the former president has said, to say that it is a game changer? What game is it changing? You must have an economy before you can have a conversation like that,” he said.
He added “So, I think that he reacted out of emotion but he didn’t consider the matter very critically. Because if you look at our economy and you are saying that the night economy is a game changer, I don’t know what you are talking about”.
He explained that for Ghana to consider a 24-hour economy it must have the capacity to do so.
What Dr Baah said:
The proposed 24-hour economy put forth by National Democratic Congress (NDC) presidential candidate John Mahama, according to Trades Union Secretary-General Dr Yaw Baah, is a “great idea” that has the potential to “change the game” for Ghana.
On Tuesday, November 7, 2023, Mahama reaffirmed the concept while meeting with TUC leadership at the TUC Hall in Accra as part of his Building Ghana Tour.
Welcoming Mr Mahama’s idea, Dr Baah said: “We’re also very interested and we are eager to know a lot more about this great idea of a 24-hour economy”.
“I think, this one, Comrade [referring to Mr Mahama], you have to take your time, because, I can imagine the amount of jobs that this kind of thing will create”, he gestured at the former president.
Dr Baah said such an economy “could be the game-changer”, explaining: “…You have an opportunity in this country, to work 24 hours: three shifts. So if you don’t get a job in the morning, you can get it in the afternoon or in the night”.
“So, where are the young people? Get ready for jobs”, Dr Baah charged.