The Member of Parliament for Ofoase Ayirebi, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, has cast doubt on the legal strength and practical viability of the government’s much-touted 24-hour economy policy, arguing that the recently passed legislation falls short of compelling institutions or businesses to operate around the clock.

Speaking on Asaase Radio, the Ranking Member on Economy and Development said the law establishes an authority rather than a binding framework to enforce continuous operations.

“The bill they have passed is a 24-hour economy authority bill, not a 24-hour economy bill,” he argued. “Its functions are not connected to delivering a 24-hour work cycle.”

According to him, the structure of the legislation undermines the very promise of a round-the-clock production model.

He further criticised the Majority for rejecting proposed Minority amendments that sought to legally require certain public institutions to implement shift systems.

Oppong Nkrumah described the overall approach as “public relations” rather than substantive reform.

Turning to the broader economic realities, the lawmaker maintained that productivity cannot simply be decreed by policy announcements. Instead, he stressed that output is driven by demand and cost competitiveness.

“Producers don’t just produce because you say so. They produce because there is demand,” he said.

Using rice production to illustrate his point, he noted that many local farmers are struggling to clear their stock as cheaper imports continue to dominate the market, leaving warehouses full and incomes squeezed.

“If you mis-conceptualise the problem, you’ll come up with a solution that doesn’t deliver anything,” he added.

He urged the government to rethink its strategy in upcoming budgets by focusing on structural reforms that reduce production costs, improve competitiveness, and stimulate demand, rather than what he characterised as symbolic interventions.